KWANIA, January 7, 2025 — Residents of Aderlongo Trading Centre in Akali Subcounty, Kwania District, have given the electricity distributor UMEME a two-week ultimatum to restore power to their area or face legal action.
The community has been without electricity for the past two years, with no clear explanation from UMEME. Local residents have expressed frustration, highlighting the detrimental impact on their businesses. They are demanding that UMEME restore the power supply within two weeks.
Bosco Emot, a resident of Aderlongo Trading Centre, explained that the power supply, which was initially connected under the Rural Electrification Programme, was disconnected in October 2023, just weeks after being handed over to UMEME by the Rural Electrification Agency [REA].
“I am deeply disappointed with UMEME after they installed power in October 2023. The electricity was cut off shortly after we bought freezers for our businesses, and to this day, our livelihoods are suffering. They must restore the power immediately or we will take legal action,” he said.
Kenneth Okunyu, a salon operator, shared that before the power outage, he would serve over 30 customers a day. However, since the electricity supply was cut, his clientele has dwindled to fewer than 10 customers because fueling a generator is expensive.
“UMEME must speed up the process of restoring electricity in our area. I was earning over Shs 50,000 daily, but now my business is at a standstill. I am struggling to pay rent and support my family, which depends entirely on this business,” he said in an interview.
Jimmy Obura, a retired headteacher of Abongomola Seed Secondary School and a resident of Aderlongo Trading Centre, noted the widespread impact of lack of electricity on local businesses.
“I appeal to UMEME to strengthen their oversight in rural areas rather than focusing solely on urban centres. This is essential if the Rural Electrification Programme is to have its intended effect. The power has been off for two years now, and many businesses are struggling as a result,” he said.
Christopher Agum, the LCV Councillor for Akali Subcounty and Speaker of Kwania district, said local leaders had raised the issue with UMEME several times, but no meaningful action had been taken.
In response, Stephen Epilu, the UMEME Lira Branch Station Engineer, confirmed that the concerns of the locals had been received. “Yes, we are aware of the problem. It is due to a breakdown of the transformer, and we are working to resolve it,” he said in a telephone interview on Friday.
The Ugandan government launched the Rural Electrification Strategy in 2013, aiming to increase access to electricity in rural areas to 26 percent by 2022. This initiative targeted 1.28 million new on-grid connections and 14,000 off-grid connections.
Over the past five months, the number of applicants for electricity connections to Uganda’s main distribution grid has surged by 53.8 percent. As of December 2024, approximately 2.3 million households in both rural and urban areas are connected to electricity, according to industry statistics.
Meanwhile, government is set to pay US$ 215 million to acquire the majority shares of UMEME, as the company’s 20-year contract comes to a close in 2025. This move will grant the government full control of the power distribution system, bringing an end to the longstanding private sector arrangement.
https://thecooperator.news/govt-to-foot-shs-795-5bln-bill-as-umeme-prepares-exit/
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