Uganda's power sector reform: There and back again?

Abstract Uganda occupies a unique space in the history of power sector reform and private electricity investment in Africa. In this article, we describe the drivers for reform as well as the reform process, including the main institutions involved and the legislative and policy instruments that helped shape them. We then offer a brief history of independent power projects (IPPs) in Uganda and emerging Chinese-funded projects, exploring the nexus between the two. Like any other private investment, IPPs require a suitably enabling environment offering long-term investment certainty. Our primary objective is to assess the experience of Uganda's IPPs and consider what might help accelerate private investment in the country's electricity sector. Finally, we attempt to extract the policy lessons that may be learned from this fascinating story.