KAMPALA, Uganda — Over 90,000 electricity users in Uganda are facing uncertainty after missing the deadline to upgrade their Yaka meters, a requirement by Umeme, the country’s power distribution company.
The upgrade, which was mandatory for all 2.15 million Yaka users, was necessary to maintain the meters’ functionality and transition to a new system with improved functionalities, according to Umeme.
As of yesterday, November 24, the deadline set by Umeme, about 95% (2,060,000) of Yaka users had completed the software upgrade. However, the remaining 4.19% (about 90,000) now face the prospect of paying for new meters, as their current ones will become unusable without the upgrade.
“We successfully upgraded more than 95% of the 2.15 million meters on our network, but for those who did not complete the process, their meters will no longer communicate, meaning they cannot generate or key in tokens for functionality,” said Peter Kaujju, Umeme’s spokesperson.
Kaujju explained that the transition to the new system comes with improved functionalities, such as better tracking of power usage. However, some customers have expressed frustration over the upgrade process, citing issues such as lack of awareness about the deadline.
“I never received any message from Umeme about the upgrade, and now I might have to pay for a new meter,” said Moses Kasongo, a Kampala City resident.
Another power user, who preferred anonymity, said, “I got the message late, and it felt like I was being forced to make the upgrade under pressure.”
Umeme has pledged to assist those who missed the deadline and ensure a smooth transition to the new system. The company is upgrading its prepaid electric metering system to the latest technology known as the Standard Transfer Specification (STS), which allows consumers to seamlessly switch their electricity payments between different utility providers.
