Alisat Namulondo, a salon operator in the area, expressed concern that the vandalism of electricity power lines has adversely affected business operations, leading to frequent power outages.
Police
in Busoga East have confirmed the arrest of three suspects for allegedly
vandalizing electricity power lines in Mayuge district. The suspects were
reportedly apprehended on Monday while vandalizing electricity power lines in
Musita village, Mpungwe sub-county, Mayuge district.
The detained individuals,
namely Asuman Egesa, Kalifani Ntalo, and William Balidawa, are currently held
at Mayuge central police station, awaiting further prosecution.
Alisat Namulondo, a salon operator in the area, expressed
concern that the vandalism of electricity power lines has adversely affected
business operations, leading to frequent power outages.
Namulondo suggested
that UMEME should collaborate with the police and village chairpersons to
enhance patrols in the high-risk areas of power line hosting communities,
aiming to prevent further vandalism.
Rodgers Musonge, another trader, accused a faction of metal
smelters involved in crafting saucepans, knives, and other metallic ornaments
of colluding with local leaders to vandalize electric wires.
Musonge claimed
that the wires serve as raw materials for their industry, with the surplus
being sold off to factories as scrap. He proposed the implementation of
interconnected power lines with surveillance systems to detect suspected
vandals easily, enabling prompt action by law enforcement.
The Busoga East police spokesperson Diana Nandawula stated that
the suspects were apprehended based on a tipoff from neighboring residents who
observed them vandalizing electricity wires. Nandawula added that the suspects
are facing charges of vandalism and theft of government property.
