Street light vandals leave Mbale City in darkness

Mbale City residents have raised concern over growing insecurity that they attribute to rampant breakdown of solar lights installed three years ago.

This publication has established that of 393 streetlights, about 100 are non-functional.

“Crime has increased and businesses on Majanga Road close early. This has been going on for a while,” Mr Ayub Masaba, a shop owner, said in an interview.

Some of the street lights have been vandalised while others were knocked down by speeding cars.

Residents who we spoke to claimed poor quality solar lights were installed, an allegation city authorities deny.

“Our leaders cannot do something perfect because of corruption,” Mr Akim Watenyeri, a resident, said.

Mr Watenyeri said they had advised authorities to install lights of 75 voltages but they instead installed that of 40 voltages.

“We advised the leaders to install good quality security lights but they kept on saying there is no money,” he said.

Mr Derrick Mafuko, a motorist, wondered why it is taking so long for city authorities to repair the lights.

“Some of the street lights have been off for close to eight months but our leaders have not bothered. Let them rectify the problem,” he said.

Mr Abdallah Magambo, the Mbale City deputy speaker, said business has also been negatively affected.

“The roads are now impassable beyond 8pm because of insecurity. I have written so many reports concerning the same issue. They give lame excuses that the panels have been clogged with dust. How can that be possible with all this downpour,” he said.

Leaders react

Mr Cassim Namugali, the Mbale City mayor, said there is a problem of poor lighting across all cities that benefited from  the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development programme. 

“The problem of streetlights is not only in Mbale City, it’s a general problem. However, we are in the process of sourcing a contractor to clean up the panels because we think it could be dust,” he said.

Mr James Kutosi, the Mbale City spokesperson, called for calm, saying the streetlights would be functioning before the end of the year. 

“We are aware of the problem and we can promise people that by Christmas, we shall have a shining city,” he said. 

Background

The lights were installed in 2019 with funding from the World Bank under Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme.

Roads that were upgraded under USMID Phase 1 include Republic Street, Pallisa, Nabuyonga Rise, and Mugisu Hill at a cost of Shs26 billion.

The most affected streets are Nabuyonga Rise, Mugisu Hill, Kumi Road, Republic Streets, and Pallisa Road.

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