Unlocking Private Sector Innovation in Rural Electrification to Guide Policies for Mini-Grids in Uganda

This workshop project, in partnership with Mandulis Energy, supports the first phase of a five-year longitudinal study evaluating the socioeconomic impact of decentralized hybrid mini-grids in rural Uganda. With only 51.5% of the population having electricity access—largely concentrated in urban centers—Uganda faces significant energy access gaps. The project aims to provide baseline data and long-term insights into how electricity access affects income, livelihoods, and local development in rural Uganda. To this end, the workshop team developed a rigorous methodology and survey tools targeting households, microenterprises, and larger businesses across seven site clusters.  The team also identified regulatory, financial, and logistical barriers to mini-grid expansion, and offered actionable policy recommendations to scale private sector engagement. By producing high-quality, localized data, the study lays the groundwork for evidence-based policymaking, scalable investment strategies, and inclusive, sustainable rural electrification aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040.