A smart meter power plant worth Shs54 billion was inaugurated in the Kampala neighborhood of Kawempe by Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa.
The new facility, which is situated in Kirokole Zone, Kawempe, Kampala, and was founded by Henley Energy Uganda, a division of the US-based Henley Energy, represents a critical turning point in Uganda’s industrialization and import substitution efforts.
“We work in a highly delicate industry. People are already crying as soon as the power blinks. with our “Buy Uganda, Build Uganda” policy. We rejoice when we see a factory like that in Uganda,” Nankabirwa remarked.
The new facility would also help create jobs for Ugandans, she said.
However, the minister emphasized quality, emphasizing that compromise is not acceptable.
“The quality of these smart meters must be high. Additionally, because that is the direction we are headed, I wish the system had an anti-vandalism component. This is the technology that we will be using. But I won’t put up with inferior meters.”
Nailax Bhatt, the CEO of Henley Uganda Limited, stated that significant investments were made in the establishment of this cutting-edge facility for the production and assembly of smart power meters.
“Equipped with advanced technology, the plant features full-scale production lines, quality control systems, and laboratory testing facilities designed to meet stringent international standards for meter manufacturing,” according to him.
In the medium run, Henley intends to increase its overall investment to USD 15 million, he said.
Over 500 Ugandans will be employed by the plant when it is fully operational, and it will be able to produce between 600,000 and 700,000 single-phase meters and 300,000 to 350,000 three-phase meters annually—all while working in a single shift. In preparation for the expected beneficiation activities beginning in 2026, the plant’s design also permits scalable manufacturing, with plans to produce gas meters to serve Uganda’s oil and gas industry,” he said.
“This facility is a significant step in lowering Uganda’s reliance on smart electricity meters that are imported.” The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) tests and certifies every Henley meter made at the facility. The meters’ compliance with Ugandan requirements has been verified through test runs carried out in front of UNBS personnel.
According to him, the business is putting itself in a position to take advantage of the expanding need for smart metering solutions throughout East Africa.
“We shall focus on the ongoing upskilling and training of young Ugandan engineers and technicians in meter assembly and related technical disciplines—critical for nurturing a technically skilled workforce.”
