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Five arrested over vandalizing new Kabale power line

Suspected power line vandals seated in a police vehicle at Kabale Central Police station in early January 2025 ahead of their transfer to Kampala where they are to be arraigned before the Standards and Utilities Court. PHOTO/OBED KANKIRIHO 

What you need to know:

  • However. police say the primary suspects are still on the run.
  • The primary suspects are believed to be employees of the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

At least five Suspects who were arrested over vandalism of the new 132KV Mirama–Kabale–Karukara double circuit transmission line will be arraigned before the Standards and Utilities Court in Kampala, authorities said on Tuesday.

“The suspects are accused of stealing angle bars and bolts from the transmission line, which violates the Electricity Act,” Kabale District Police Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (OC CID) Hakim Mukama told Monitor.

Police have since identified the suspects including Kabale University student Elias Mazima, Fazil Kiwanuka alias Muganda, scrap dealers Posiano Twebaze and Anna Ntegyerize as well as John Mare. The suspects, who were transferred to Kampala during the weekend, are residents of Kabale Town.

“Section 86 of the Electricity Act addresses theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, prescribing penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, fines of up to 20,000 currency points, or both for those convicted. Under Section 89, offenders can face up to 12 years imprisonment, fines of up to 50,000 currency points, or both for offenses not specifically penalized elsewhere in the Act. They will face the Standards and Utilities Court,” Mukama elaborated.

However, police highlighted that the primary suspects are still on the run but believed to be employees of the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

Earlier, Kabale District Police Commander (DPC) Charles Okello described vandalism of the new transmission line as a “disheartening act that undermines development efforts, especially in a region grappling with power shortages.”

“This kind of behavior is unacceptable as overnment is working hard to address power issues by tapping into the 132 KV power line from Mirama Hills in Ntungamo District to Karukara in Rubanda District, where a substation is under construction,” he explained.

He asked the public to continue working closely with security agencies by sharing information to help address vandalism.

“To those harboring intentions of sabotaging development, your days are numbered. Police are committed to supporting the country’s development and ensuring that such offenders are brought to justice,” he warned.

Last week, CCC International Engineering Nigeria Limited site manager Julius Musinguzi revealed that more than Shs45 million has been lost to vandals of the towers of the Mirama–Kabale–Karukara double circuit transmission line.

Funded by an $83 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank, the 88.5-kilometer transmission line was constructed by the company, with Ceylex Engineering (Pvt) managing the 132/33 KV Kabale substation.