Umeme, the power distributor says consumers in the Kabale should expect stable electricity after the completion of a substation in the neighboring Rubanda district.
Ian Namanya, Umeme Operations Manager for the Western Region,
said that their engagement with the government indicates that the ongoing
construction of the substation at Karukara is expected to be completed by December 2024.
He says before the completion of the substation,
Umeme has no solution to the problem. He also says that whether concerned
consumers demonstrate or not, the problem will remain.
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His statement came at a time when sections of power consumers in Kabale mobilized themselves in a planned demonstration against erratic power supplies in Kabale area. The demonstration has been planned for Friday this week.
Namanya was speaking at Cephas Inn Hotel after he and other Umeme officials were summoned by Godfrey Nyakahuma, Kabale Resident District
Commissioner to explain why power in Kabale is not stable.
,
Namanya’s statement
was however was not welcomed by the consumers who were in the meeting.
Ian Mugisha,
alias Barca, Kabale District Deputy speaker, and Hillary Gumisizira, speaker
for the Northern division in Kabale municipality accused Umeme officials of
playing jokes on Kabale people.
They demanded a written memorandum with Umeme
officials, assuring that the problem would end in December.
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Nickson Kanyesigye, a consumer from Ndorwa West County
demanded Umeme connect the Kabele line to the line supplying Rwanda since it is
never off.
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This led Nyakahuma to issue an apology on behalf of the
government and asked for the call-off of the demonstration.
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Kabale, Rukiga, Rubanda and Kanungu districts have
experienced unstable power supplies for more than two years.