Bobi Wine promises lower power tariffs, action on land grabbers

National Unity Platform (NUP) party flag-bearer in the 2026 General Election, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine, has pledged to design interventions to reduce costs of power connections and tariffs, so that even the poor can access it with minimal hassle.

Kyagulanyi says that, much as power lines snake through the remote villages, the poor have remained unconnected due to high connection costs, while those connected are grappling with high tariffs.

Robert Kyagulanyi during his second day of the campaign trail. (All Photos by Ponsiano Nsimbi)

“Power lines feature along the rural roads; however, less than 20 per cent of the rural folk are connected. Once elected President, my government will ensure that the tariffs are lowered so that the least poor access it,” Kyagulanyi said, suggesting that at least Ugandans should pay shillings 500 instead of 1,000 per unit and water at least sh100 per 20-litre jerrycan.

It should be noted, however, that the current Electricity Retail Tariff rates applicable from July to September 2025, as approved by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) for domestic consumers per unit, a copy of which New Vision Online has seen, are: 

• First 15kwh in a month shillings 250.0

• Units between 16-80kwh shillings 756.2

• Units between 81-150kwh shillings 412.0

• Units above 150kwh shillings 756.2

For the case of water, New Vision Online has established that the cost of a 20-liter jerrycan of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) water varies by consumer type, with the Public Stand Pipe tariff being the lowest at approximately shillings 25, while Domestic users pay about 83 to 99, and commercial/Institutional users pay more, ranging from shillings 99 to 118, with rates subject to annual adjustment. 

It is possible that beyond the official rates, the middlemen escalate prices of water to some areas over shillings 1,000 per jerrycan.

Kyagulanyi made the pledge during his campaign trail in Buyende district on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, where he addressed crowds in the townships of Buyende, Kitukiro and Irundu, before he proceeded to Namwendwa town in Kamuli district to address a crowd.

His speeches were all about his plans for Busoga and Uganda, citing that despite having power generation dams in Jinja, the biggest percentage of the populace are yet to access power, due to high tariffs.

“Being the host of the power generation dams, the Basoga should have special consideration in connections and tariffs,” he said.

On income-generation and national economy, Kyagulanyi pledged to address the challenge of the unsteady sugarcane rates, adding that the trend of millers determining the rate per ton shall come to an end.

On the nationwide land grabbing saga, he alleged is perpetuated by the nation’s rich gang, Kyagulanyi was concerned that the poor have lost their land, which is cheaply bought, and the poor evicted after conniving with local leaders.

“The tycoons connive with local leaders to grab the poor’s land, leaving families in disarray and poverty,” Kyagulanyi said.

He pledged that once elected, all the land which had been grabbed would be returned to the legitimate owners.

Kyagulanyi rallied the masses to support him in regime change, noting that the battle is not all about achieving goals of the National Unity Platform (NUP), but a revolution to change Uganda for the better.

“It is not all about NUP or the umbrella; it is about fighting the rights of Ugandans, including the civil servants and the nation’s security. Kindly rally behind me, we achieve it,” Kyagulanyi said, drawing cheers from the crowd.