Uganda’s largest electricity distributor, Umeme Limited, has announced the resignation of four board members, marking a significant transition in the company’s governance as it prepares to wind down its operations following the expiry of its concession.
In a public notice released on 22 August 2025, Umeme confirmed that Hon. Gerald Ssendaula, Ms. Florence Namatta Mawejje, Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, and Mr. Johan de Bruijn have officially stepped down from their roles on the board of directors. The Umeme board resignations announcement comes after the company communicated during its Annual General Meeting in July that its electricity distribution concession will come to a natural end.
Hon. Gerald Ssendaula, who joined Umeme’s board in 2013, has been a central figure in steering the company’s strategic direction over the past decade. A former minister with extensive experience in both public and private sectors, he chaired the Customer Service and Loss Reduction Committee, a role seen as critical in ensuring accountability and operational efficiency.
The company praised his “exemplary and dedicated service” and credited him with offering leadership at a time when Uganda’s power sector underwent major reforms and expansion.
Ms. Florence Namatta Mawejje, who joined the board in 2016, also steps down after nearly a decade of service. With over 25 years of executive experience across Africa, she served on three board committees and was lauded for her ability to bring private-sector expertise into energy governance. “Her contribution to Umeme and the wider board was invaluable,” the company noted.
Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, had been appointed a non-executive director in April 2024. Though his tenure was relatively short, Umeme highlighted his wealth of experience in leadership and public utility management. His career, spanning infrastructure and water management, brought technical depth to the company’s governance.
Mr. Johan de Bruijn, who joined in 2020, leaves the board after five years. With extensive experience in African and emerging markets, he was recognized for his contributions in steering investment discussions and corporate governance practices within the utility.
Umeme expressed gratitude to all four departing directors, describing their collective input as “unwavering and exceptional service to Umeme, the electricity sector, and Uganda as a whole.”
The Umeme board resignations underscore the company’s broader transition as it prepares to hand over its operations. Umeme, listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange, has been at the heart of the country’s electricity distribution since 2005, expanding access to millions of Ugandans and investing heavily in grid infrastructure.
The utility’s 20-year concession is set to expire in 2025, and the Ugandan government has already outlined plans to transfer distribution back to the state-owned Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL). The leadership exits, therefore, signal not only individual departures but also a symbolic shift as the company nears the end of its historic role in Uganda’s power sector.
While Umeme has often faced criticism from consumers over high tariffs and service outages, it has also been credited with improving billing efficiency, expanding grid connections, and introducing modern technologies in electricity management.
For shareholders, the company’s future remains tied to the government’s compensation arrangements following the expiry of the concession. During the July AGM, Umeme assured investors that discussions with authorities were progressing.
For many, it marks the closing chapter in a transformative though often contested era of Uganda’s electricity distribution. The Ugandan government is expected to play a more direct role in electricity distribution through UEDCL.
Do you have any story or press releases you want to share? Send tips to editor@envestreetfinancial.com
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to ensure you don’t miss out on any