diff --git a/contracts/core/UniversalChannelHandler.sol b/contracts/core/UniversalChannelHandler.sol
index e233eca5..d1fcbd23 100644
--- a/contracts/core/UniversalChannelHandler.sol
+++ b/contracts/core/UniversalChannelHandler.sol
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ contract UniversalChannelHandler is IbcReceiverBaseUpgradeable, IbcUniversalChan
 
     function onChanOpenConfirm(bytes32 channelId) external onlyIbcDispatcher {}
 
+    function setDispatcher(IbcDispatcher _dispatcher) external onlyOwner {
+        dispatcher = _dispatcher;
+    }
+
     function _connectChannel(bytes32 channelId, string calldata version)
         internal
         returns (string memory checkedVersion)
diff --git a/contracts/interfaces/IUniversalChannelHandler.sol b/contracts/interfaces/IUniversalChannelHandler.sol
index 5df25101..7a1d4c91 100644
--- a/contracts/interfaces/IUniversalChannelHandler.sol
+++ b/contracts/interfaces/IUniversalChannelHandler.sol
@@ -27,5 +27,7 @@ interface IUniversalChannelHandler is IbcUniversalChannelMW {
         string calldata counterpartyPortIdentifier
     ) external;
     function closeChannel(bytes32 channelId) external;
-    function connectedChannels(uint256) external view returns (bytes32);
+    function setDispatcher(IbcDispatcher dispatcher) external;
+    function dispatcher() external returns (IbcDispatcher dispatcher);
+    function connectedChannels(uint256) external view returns (bytes32 channel);
 }
diff --git a/contracts/interfaces/IbcReceiverUpgradeable.sol b/contracts/interfaces/IbcReceiverUpgradeable.sol
index 0d7a85c0..f748f962 100644
--- a/contracts/interfaces/IbcReceiverUpgradeable.sol
+++ b/contracts/interfaces/IbcReceiverUpgradeable.sol
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ contract IbcReceiverBaseUpgradeable is OwnableUpgradeable {
         _disableInitializers();
     }
 
+    /// This function is called for plain Ether transfers, i.e. for every call with empty calldata.
+    // An empty function body is sufficient to receive packet fee refunds.
+    receive() external payable {}
+
     /**
      * @dev initializer function that takes an IbcDispatcher address and grants the IBC_ROLE to the Polymer IBC
      * Dispatcher.
@@ -38,8 +42,4 @@ contract IbcReceiverBaseUpgradeable is OwnableUpgradeable {
         __Ownable_init();
         dispatcher = _dispatcher;
     }
-
-    /// This function is called for plain Ether transfers, i.e. for every call with empty calldata.
-    // An empty function body is sufficient to receive packet fee refunds.
-    receive() external payable {}
 }
diff --git a/test/universal.channel.t.sol b/test/universal.channel.t.sol
index 0e020642..37a0e571 100644
--- a/test/universal.channel.t.sol
+++ b/test/universal.channel.t.sol
@@ -222,6 +222,29 @@ contract UniversalChannelPacketTest is Base, IbcMwEventsEmitter {
         verifyTimeoutFlow(5, mwBitmap);
     }
 
+    function test_uch_new_dispatcher_set_ok() public {
+        IUniversalChannelHandler uch = eth1.ucHandlerProxy();
+        vm.startPrank(address(eth1)); // Prank eth1 since that address is the owner
+        (IDispatcher newDispatcher,) = deployDispatcherProxyAndImpl("polyibc.new.", dummyConsStateManager);
+        assertFalse(
+            address(uch.dispatcher()) == address(newDispatcher), "new dispatcher in uch test not setup correctly"
+        );
+        uch.setDispatcher(newDispatcher);
+        assertEq(address(uch.dispatcher()), address(newDispatcher), "new dispatcher not set correctly in uch");
+        vm.stopPrank();
+    }
+
+    function test_nonOwner_cannot_set_uch_dispatcher() public {
+        IUniversalChannelHandler uch = eth1.ucHandlerProxy();
+        address notOwner = vm.addr(1);
+        vm.startPrank(notOwner);
+        (IDispatcher newDispatcher,) = deployDispatcherProxyAndImpl("polyibc.new.", dummyConsStateManager);
+
+        vm.expectRevert("Ownable: caller is not the owner");
+        uch.setDispatcher(newDispatcher);
+        vm.stopPrank();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Test packet flow from chain A to chain B via UniversalChannel MW and optionally other MW that sits on top of
      * UniversalChannel MW.