Total darkness in Uganda: National grid collapse revives fears of poor power service

Uganda was plunged into total darkness on Friday night following a massive system failure on the national grid, rekindling public frustration over chronic power instability just as the country transitions into a new era of state-managed electricity.

The nationwide blackout occurred at exactly 9:07 PM on June 5, 2026, according to an emergency notice issued by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). In a statement, UETCL confirmed that its technical teams had been deployed to investigate the root cause and restore the grid, offering regrets for the widespread…