Umeme recovers Shs400m from illegal users in Elgon region
MBALE.
An operation mounted by the Umeme and police against illegal electricity users in Elgon region has seen the utility firm recover more than Shs400 million.
The operation dubbed ‘Fagiya’ that started in January, was launched in Sironko District where more than 400 people were arrested and charged with power theft in courts of law.
The operation also left more than 700 homes and trading centres disconnected with most people deserting their homes and businesses in fear of being arrested.
The exercise has now covered other districts such as Bulambuli, Mbale, Bududa and Manafwa. It will be rolled out to Kapchwora, Kumi, Pallisa and Budaka districts.
Umeme managing director Selestino Babungi said following the crackdown, the firm has registered a reduction in losses by 7 per cent.
“The total losses covering Elgon region have reduced by 7 per cent from 56 per cent in January this year to 49 per cent in February. We have been losing 5.5gwh valued at Sh36b annually,” he said.
Mr Babungi made the remarks at a dinner organised by Umeme to celebrate the reductions in power losses so far and review the sustainable plan for the Elgon region in Mbale recently.
He explained that the Elgon sub-region project has saved 1.2gwh equivalent to over Shs400m.
“The umeme body realised that the organisation was making more losses because of illegal connection, and we came up with an “operation fagiya to crack down on illegal power users,” Mr Babungi said.
He added that Elgon region has been singled out as being top in stealing power due to illegal connections followed by Masaka District.
Reducing losses
Mr Babungi said the major objective of the operation is to save life and reduce energy losses that the power distributor has been suffering in the region for over a decade.
“We are sensitising the masses about the dangers of power thefts and illegal connections, and the new connection procedure, disconnect illegal connections and arrest suspected power thieves,” said Mr Babungi.
He further committed that Umeme will open five new offices in Kapchorwa, Sironko, Bubulo, Pallisa and Kumi to take services nearer to the customers. Umeme Mbale branch manager Paul ssempira explained that since the operation started, the number of people applying to get connected legally has risen.
“We are getting hundreds of people applying for power legally which was not the case previously. We know this will help us to reduce power theft,” said Mr Ssempira.
Ssempira also revealed that Umeme loses about Shs3 billion every month due to illegal connections and vandalism in Elgon region.
He singled out Sironko with the highest number of illegal connections in the region.
Umeme media manager Stephen Illungole has repeatedly blamed the load shedding on illegal power users. He said arrests are part of company efforts to curb illegal connections, vandalism and theft of electricity.
