Umeme Starts Distributing Non-Metallic Laundry Lines to Unplanned Settlements

The electricity regulatory body Umeme has started the distribution of 80,000 meters of nonmetallic laundry lines to 37 slums in the country that are at high risk of electrocution.        

This is aimed at reducing the number of people who get electrocuted while hanging washed clothes on the metallic line in different areas.        

The distribution of nonmetallic Laundry lines will cover slums in Kampala, Police barracks, and other areas such as Mbale, Masaka, and Entebbe among other areas where there is a vice of using metallic laundry lines.             

While launching the exercise in Katoogo zone of Bwaise on Friday, the Chief Operations officer  Florence Nakimbugwe Nsubuga said that Umeme has the responsibility to take care of the power users following an incident that happened in Kasenge where three people were electrocuted while hanging washed clothes on metallic wires.

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Cue out….. here to demostrate."//        

Luganda

//Cue in: “ Ffenga Umeme….//      

Cue out…..obulabe bwamaanyi.”//        

Nakimbugwe condemned the power theft among residents mostly in the slum which results from poor wiring where the electricity gets in touch with the Laundry metallic line touching the house and leading to the death of people.        

Hasfa Nagawa a women's leader in Katoogo zone in Bwaise said that the move by Umeme is going to save lives of people who were dying due to ignorance.  She, however, showed concern about the increasing theft of Umeme meters from the poles that were given to residents in the area to reduce illegal connections. She fears tat this may rekindle the illegal connections that had been reduced in Katoogo.    

//Cue in: “ Umeme kyekoze….//      

Cue out…. Ekintu ekyo bakirongoose.''//          

 Ruth Nassolo a counilor for the elderly welcomed the program saying that it will help to reduce the number of people who are dying because of electrocution in the country.    

//Cue in: “ Kino ekikoleddwa ffe…..//      

  Cue out……gikozese wuliriza.”//           

Cases of people being electrocuted while hanging washed clothes on metallic Laundry wires are common in Kampala, mostly in unlanned settlements like Bwaise, Katanga, Kawempe and Nateete among others.        

In January this year, three people were electrocuted in Kasenge trading center when one of the victims was hanging clothes on the wire.    

Police found out that the house they were renting had no power but they were illegally connecting from the neighbor.