Electricity tribunal wants independence
Kanungu District speaker Charles Beshetsya (standing) speaks at the workshop in Mbarara on Tuesday. PHOTO BY RAJAB MUKOMBOZI.
MBARARA- The Electricity Disputes Tribunal (EDT) wants independence from Energy ministry to build public confidence in executing its mandate.
Addressing western Uganda leaders in a sensitisation workshop in Mbarara on Tuesday, Mr Charles O. Owor, the EDT chairperson, said being dependent on the Energy ministry creates conflict and suspicion among people that have complaints against power companies.
“The tribunal recognises that access to justice is dependent on positive perception and if the people have trust and confidence in us they will use our services,” he said, noting that proposals have already been submitted to government to amend the Electricity Act in that regard.
The tribunal was established in 2003 and has only three members.
Leaders in the meeting called for the decentralisation of tribunal activities to save the public from the inefficiencies of the electricity industry. The tribunal sits in Kampala.
Mr Safiq Ssekandi, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, said it will always remain difficult for the ordinary citizens to access justice in Kampala yet electricity disputes and inefficiencies remain high cutting across Uganda.
