A detective involved in the investigation, who requested anonymity, revealed that illegal power connections are often used as campaign tools by some politicians in the Busoga sub-region. These politicians, having failed to fulfill their promises, allegedly support power theft to alleviate pressure from their political opponents.
Members of Parliament have asked government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to prioritise rural electrification.
They recommended an allocation of 250 billion Shillings under Rural Electrification Project to undertake new projects in the next financial year 2022/2023.
Mutesi adds that acts of vandalism are the lead causes of frequent load shedding and are in turn slowing down the process of connecting electric power to their targeted beneficiary communities.
The concern was raised by members of the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament who are currently visiting parts of western Uganda, to study the extent of power penetration in the areas of Masaka, Mbarara, Kasese and Fort Portal, among others. They are bothered that some projects which were launched in 2014 have not yet started.
The companies were part of the 59 prequalified sub-contractors by TBEA Co, a Chinese Power company working on the project that is to connect power across approximately 3,800 km of medium voltage and 5,900 km of low voltage networks with transformers and consumer connections.
According to the loan performance report of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development on loans under the sector, presented before the National Economy Committee in Parliament, some of the loans to the government have not been put to use due to termination of contracts as a result of bankruptcy of contractors, lack of counterpart funding and compensation issues.
