UEDCL has consistently attributed nationwide blackouts to multiple causes, with rampant vandalism of power infrastructure high on the list. The company says such acts not only interrupt supply but also impose heavy financial burdens on the utility provider.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 a.m. when Kevira was playing near a grasshopper collection point. She accidentally touched a live electrical wire and was electrocuted.
Mugoya clarified that water production would resume once power was restored and stated that NWSC had reached out to Umeme to address the issue. Meanwhile, customers were urged to use the available water sparingly.
Umeme could be paid over $2020 million as a buyout amount as unrecovered costs on investments during the 20 years of the concession. There is also a dispute of 145 million dollars that Umeme wants the regulator to include as unrecovered investment costs.
With the taps running dry, some individuals have resorted to purchasing water from vendors who draw it from boreholes. However, this increased demand has also led to a surge in prices, with the cost of a 20-litre jerry can rising from Shillings 500 to 1,000.
Acting on intelligence information, the Umeme officials raided St. Denison Health Training School in Kavule Zone, which belongs to the legislator where they discovered illegal connections. They also disconnected the school from the power grid.
The suspects identified as Jimmy Munina and Juliet Mukisa, were traced and arrested from two stores at Mulago Central Zone in Mukono Central Division Mukono Municipality located a few meters from Umeme offices.
“The lack of clarity of the Concession post 2025, limits significantly our ability to raise capital and make capital investments in the electricity distribution system to achieve the national electrification goals. We await further engagements with Government for an amicable settlement of the negotiations,” said the statement by Bitature and the Managing Director, Celestino Babungi
Eng. John Baptist Nuwamanya, Metering Services Manager at Umeme who led the operation says they have found out that many clients had added several components to their Yaka metres enabling them to utilize electricity without pre-loading tokens.
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has tasked Government to explain continuous power outages in Gulu and Lira districts despite promises to resolve the problem.
