Kalangala Infrastructure Services

What Kalangala Infrastructure Services does

Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd (KIS) is Uganda's first multi-sectoral infrastructure company, operating under a Private Public Partnership with the Government of Uganda to deliver ferry, electricity, water, and road services exclusively on Bugala Island in Kalangala District, Lake Victoria. The company is privately held, owned by InfraCo Africa Ltd and the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), with additional financing from PIDG, IDC, Nedbank, EAIF, and GuarantCo.

KIS's core infrastructure comprises a 1.6MW hybrid solar and thermal power generation system delivering 24/7 electricity to the island, two RO-RO ferries (MV Pearl and MV Ssese) operating between Luuku on Bugala Island and Bukakata on the mainland at ~200 passengers per crossing, a licensed water treatment and distribution network, and maintenance responsibility for a 67km main island road upgraded from dirt to Class B gravel standard. In 2020, KIS added an advertising media platform — 18, 49-inch TV screens installed on ferries, docking points, and drive-away areas — reaching an estimated 60,000 people daily. Electricity tariffs are approved quarterly by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA).

Revenue is generated through usage-based electricity charges, water subscription fees and connection charges, per-crossing ferry fares, advertising sales, and road maintenance contracts executed on behalf of the Kalangala District Local Government. The customer base comprises Bugala Island residents, businesses, visitors, government institutions, and advertisers targeting the captive ferry audience. KIS operates from its Kalangala Town headquarters, a Kampala regional office, and additional customer service points at Bbeta Trading Centre and Mulabana Kyagalanyi. The company supports payments via mobile money, bank transfers, and physical offices.

Name

Kalangala Infrastructure Services

Legal name

Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd

Website

https://kis.co.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kalangala Infrastructure Services is a multi-sector infrastructure utility operating under a PPP with the Government of Uganda to deliver ferry, electricity, water, and road services on Bugala Island in Lake Victoria, serving island residents, businesses, advertisers, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Sector Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Utilities (22), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Island & Remote Community Ferry Services (THAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Ferry services
• Electricity distribution
• Water utility services
• Road maintenance
• Island infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution: KIS is licensed to generate, transmit and supply electricity to customers on Buggala Island. Revenue comes from electricity sales with tariffs approved by the Electricity Regulatory Authority. Customers can purchase electricity units via mobile money, bank transfers, or at office pay points.
2. Water Distribution: KIS is licensed to distribute clean treated water to customers on Buggala Island. Charges include connection fees and ongoing water supply charges.
3. Ferry Services: KIS is licensed to provide ferry services between Luuku on Buggala Island and Bukakata on the mainland. Operates two ferries (MV Pearl and MV Ssese) serving passengers and vehicles.
4. Road Maintenance: KIS upgraded and maintains the 67km main island road from a dirt road to a class B gravel road
5. Advertising Revenue: KIS Advertising Media Platform generates revenue from businesses targeting ferry passengers - 18 TV screens across ferries and docking points reaching 60,000 people daily

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS) is Uganda's first multi-sectoral infrastructure company operating under a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Uganda. It provides ferry transportation (MV Pearl and MV Ssese RO-RO ferries between Luku on Bugala Island and Bukakata on the mainland), licensed electricity generation, transmission and distribution (1.6MW hybrid solar/thermal capacity), licensed clean water distribution, and 67km of road maintenance services on Bugala Island in Kalangala District.

Product overview

KIS operates as a multi-sector infrastructure services company providing four core services under a Private Public Partnership with the Government of Uganda: Ferry Services (MV Pearl and MV Ssese RO-RO ferries between Luuku and Bukakata), Power Services (hybrid solar/thermal 1.6MW electricity generation and distribution with transformer infrastructure from 50KVA to 315KVA), Water Services (clean water treatment and distribution), and Road Maintenance Services (67km Class B gravel road). The company also operates an advertising media platform with 18 TV screens on its ferries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ferry Services Licensed RO-RO ferry transport service for passengers and vehicles operating between Luuku on Buggala Island and Bukakata on the mainland across Lake Victoria, using MV Pearl and MV Ssese vessels operated to international maritime standards. Targeted at island residents, visitors, and vehicle owners needing reliable mainland connectivity.
• Power Services Licensed electricity generation, transmission, and distribution on Buggala Island using a 1.6MW hybrid solar and thermal (diesel) generation system with distribution transformer infrastructure (50KVA to 315KVA ratings), delivering 24/7 electricity to connected households and businesses.
• Water Services Licensed clean treated water distribution to customers on Buggala Island, including water treatment and pipeline infrastructure connecting to existing water mains within 50 meters. Targets households and businesses on Bugala Island needing reliable access to safe water.
• Road Maintenance Services Maintenance of the 67km main island road on Buggala Island, upgraded from a dirt road to a Class B gravel road, supporting mobility and economic activity for residents and businesses on Bugala Island.
• KIS Advertising Media Platform Advertising media platform comprising 18 49-inch TV screens installed on MV Pearl and MV Ssese ferries, docking points, and drive-away, enabling local businesses, brands, and government campaigns to reach approximately 60,000 ferry users daily on Bugala Island.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67km road upgraded from dirt to class B gravel road
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Republic of UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in the Private Public Partnership. KIS operates under PPP agreement with Government of Uganda. The Government provides regulatory oversight through ERA for electricity tariffs.
• EleqtracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Developer of the multi-sector infrastructure project. Eleqtra is a development company focused on infrastructure in East Africa.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• BBOXX: UK-headquartered solar energy company providing pay-as-you-go off-grid solar power across East Africa, including Uganda. Comparable to KIS's distributed power generation and metered electricity distribution, with a similar pay-as-you-go revenue model and East African customer base.
• PowerGen Renewable Energy: Pan-African mini-grid and distributed energy company with operations in East Africa, building and operating solar hybrid mini-grids serving similar rural and peri-urban customers. Closely comparable to KIS's hybrid solar-thermal generation model on Bugala Island.
• UMEME Limited: Uganda's largest electricity distribution company, licensed by the Electricity Regulatory Authority. Directly comparable to KIS on the regulated electricity distribution leg of its business, with similar tariff-setting dynamics and ERA oversight, but operating at national scale across Uganda's main grid.
• National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC): Uganda's national water utility responsible for water and sewerage services in urban areas. Comparable to KIS's licensed water treatment and distribution business, with the same per-connection fee + tariff model, though operating at much greater scale across the country.

Emerging players

• Husk Power Systems: Africa and Asia-focused mini-grid operator deploying solar hybrid and biomass systems in rural and peri-urban communities. Closely comparable to KIS's hybrid generation model and remote-island service delivery, with similar customer profiles and tariffs.
• M-KOPA Solar: Kenya-headquartered pay-as-you-go solar home system company operating across East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana). Comparable to KIS's metered, mobile-money-billed electricity distribution with usage-based tariffs and digital payment rails (*210*500#). Differentiated by individual home systems vs. centralised grid.
• Equatorial Power: Uganda-focused mini-grid developer operating small solar hybrid mini-grids in island and remote communities. Directly comparable to KIS's hybrid power generation and island distribution model, though smaller in scale.

Regional players

• Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL): Tanzania's government ferry and marine transport operator on Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. Regional comparable to KIS's RO-RO ferry operations, sharing similar vessel type, Lake Victoria routes, and passenger transport tariff structures, though state-owned and operating at larger scale.
• Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO): Tanzania's state-owned vertically integrated power utility, also serving Lake Victoria-adjacent communities. Regional comparable to KIS as a national-scale regulated utility operating in a similar East African regulatory and frontier-market context.

Broad incumbents

• Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC): Kenya's national electricity distribution utility, regulated by EPRA. Comparable to KIS as a national-scale regulated electricity distributor with a single national concession and tariff-regulated revenue, providing a regional benchmark for the kind of utility model KIS operates at island scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kis_ltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/KISLdt
• LinkedInug.linkedin.com/company/kalangala-infrustructure-services-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kalangala Infrastructure Services