Elgon region leads in power theft - minister
Umeme staff discover illegal underground cables in Doko Cell in Mbale Municipality. PHOTO BY DAVID MAFABI
What you need to know:
The minister said more than 1,079 people were electrocuted in the Mt Elgon area and Masaka in the past six months.
Bulambuli – Mt Elgon region steals more electricity than any other region in Uganda, according to Energy minister Irene Muloni. It is followed by Masaka District.
Mt Elgon region covers the districts of Mbale, Manafwa, Bududa, Sironko, Bulambuli, Budaka, Tororo, Butalleja, Pallisa and Kapchorwa.
The region, according to the minister, faces more electrocutions due to illegal connections.
The minister said more than 1,079 people were electrocuted in the Mt Elgon area and Masaka in the past six months.
“The practice of illegal connections in this area is alarming. Wires are left exposed which leads to electrocution of children,” Ms Muloni said.
She made the remarks as she met Bulambuli District NRM leaders at Namisuni Sub-county on Sunday.
The meeting sought to market a resolution passed by the party MPs that fronts President Museveni as the NRM sole presidential candidate in the 2016 elections.
The minister also said power company Umeme loses 60 per cent of power units every year due to power theft.
Last week, Ms Christine Nabwire, a mother of three, died after she was electrocuted in Bungokho Sub-county in Mbale District.
It is estimated that between 20 and 30 families in Bududa, Bulambuli, Mbale, Manafwa and Mbale tap power illegally from a single meter.
The owners of such meters usually charge those who are illegally tapping the electricity.
Early this year, Umeme conducted a massive operation against
power connections in Mbale, arresting culprits from Doko Cell in Mbale Municipality.
The company also disconnected about 13,000 customers in this area after discovering that more than 70 per cent of the power connections were illegal.
