Over 129,000 Umeme Customers Yet to Complete Prepaid Yaka Meter Upgrade

The upgrade of prepaid Yaka meters is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s electricity infrastructure and align with global standards.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, has revealed that 129,000 electricity customers across Uganda’s two major distributors, Umeme and UEDCL, have yet to complete the crucial upgrade of their prepaid Yaka meter ahead of the global Token Identifier (TID) rollover deadline.
The upgrade, mandated by the global Standard Transfer Specification (STS) Association, is essential to avoid disruption in electricity services, as meters that have not been upgraded will no longer be able to accept new tokens.
The TID rollover is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2024, and the Ministry has been working tirelessly to ensure that all customers are compliant ahead of this deadline.
Ms Nankabirwa reported that significant progress had been made, with 95.5% of all prepaid meters in the country successfully upgraded.
This includes approximately 2.2 million customers from both Umeme and UEDCL, as well as 100% compliance in areas served by Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS) and Western Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECO).
However, the Minister emphasized that the remaining 4.5% of customers, or around 129,000 individuals, still needed to complete the upgrade process.
“We have made tremendous strides, but we are not yet at 100%. Approximately 112,000 Umeme customers and 17,122 UEDCL customers have not yet completed their meter upgrades. We strongly urge these customers to act swiftly,” she said.
The minister provided insights into the reasons behind the delay in upgrades for certain customers. These include:
Unoccupied rental properties
- Absent homeowners, especially those living abroad or in other towns
- Electricity theft through meter bypassing
- Properties under legal disputes or sale
- Deceased property owners
In light of these factors, the Ministry and Electricity Distribution Companies have been proactively reaching out to affected customers through direct communication efforts such as SMS notifications, phone calls, and public media campaigns.
To ensure that all customers are able to upgrade their meters before the deadline, the Ministry has dispatched technicians to manually upgrade meters that are accessible.
Additionally, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has intensified its efforts to ensure compliance across the country.
“Technicians are on the ground, upgrading meters that are still pending. We’ve also stepped up communication, including direct SMS alerts and phone calls to all customers who haven’t completed their upgrades,” Nankabirwa explained.
All newly installed meters since May 2024 are already compliant with the new system, so customers with recent installations do not need to take any further action unless they are unsure of their meter's status.
The ERA has provided guidelines to help customers verify whether their meters are upgraded, and these can be accessed through both online and physical channels.
The Minister called on all affected customers to complete their upgrades without delay, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that everyone can continue to purchase tokens and access electricity without interruption.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the vast majority of our customers who have already completed their upgrades," she said.
"However, those who have not yet done so must act now to avoid any inconvenience. The electricity sector is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind,:
The upgrade of prepaid Yaka meters is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s electricity infrastructure and align with global standards.
By completing the TID rollover, Uganda is taking a major step towards securing a more reliable and future-proof energy sector for its citizens.