Streetlights: Is KCCA repeating mistakes of its predecessor?
Newly- installed street lights on Mbogo road in Kibuli, a Kampala suburb. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KAISRYE
What you need to know:
At least 98 solar street lamps were installed by Huawei, a Chinese firm in various locations around Kampala. However, there is scepticism about the new project following failure of previous ones..
Kampala
For two decades, David Magezi has lived on the Kabaka Anjagala Road in Rubaga Municipality, Kampala. He has witnessed installations of three sets of streetlights – two unsuccessful and the latest, just a beacon of hope burning to endure or be extinguished.
“The new solar lights function perfectly and whenever it gets to 7:30pm they are automatically switched on and keep the area illuminated throughout the night,” he says.
However, Magezi, a 32-year-old property broker who also runs a shoe mending business on the route that links the Bulange, Buganda’s parliamentary seat, to the Kabaka’s palace, doubts whether the streetlights will stand the test of time.
“The problem with these lights is maintenance. After sometime, the city authorities tend to forget they even exist and slowly they malfunction one by one till there is none left that can work,” he says.
Magezi, however, narrates how the lights on the road have not only attracted businesses but also enhanced security in the area. “More people are setting up bars and night entertainment amenities on the road side. Small business people are setting up stalls to sell clothes and even food,” he explains.
“The lights make them feel safe to go about their business. And I believe they scare away ill-intentioned people like thieves,” he adds.
Last month, the Chinese government handed 98 solar street lamps to the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA). The solar lamps were funded off an $800,000 (Shs2.09b) grant as a result of business agreements signed between the Chinese government and Uganda in May 2012 on the initiation of the solar demonstration project.
A total of 98 two-beam solar street lamps were installed by Huawei, a Chinese firm in various locations around Kampala. These are Kabaka – Anjangala Road, Usafi Taxi Park, Nsambya Road, Mbogo Road (Zimwe) and State House Close. “The primary objective is to cut on energy costs of running on commercial power for street lighting in Kampala,” says Peter Kauju, KCCA spokesman.
Presently, the city spends more than Shs90m annually on electricity street lighting.
Kauju says the free solar energy to supply illumination on the streets will help save an estimated 85,848 Kwh which is about Shs42m, every year. “The new solar lamps are very easy to maintain, saving much operational cost and human labour compared to traditional street lamp,” he says.
However, this is not the first time the city is trying out solar street lighting. In 2012, then Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala commissioned a Shs180m project that was implemented by Winafrique Uganda, a local firm, in conjunction with the Kampala City Council, on April 5.
During the launch, Mr Sebaggala pointed out that the new street lights would assist in the fight against crime. Barely three months later most of the lights installed were non-operational, especially the 23 that were installed at the stretch between Kampala Road and Entebbe Road junction, opposite Shoprite.
KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi reaffirms that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. “The way these solar lamps are made makes it difficult for any of their parts to be vandalised,” she says.
