Umeme blames power connection delays on UNBS
Mr Stephen Illungole, Umeme’s media relations manager
What you need to know:
Rural Electrification Agency has secured $94m (Shs352b) in loans for the project.
Kampala. Electricity distributor Umeme has attributed the delays in connecting people to the power grid to Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) which is still testing the metres.
A July to September Electricity Consumer Complaints Report indicated that some individuals seeking connection to the power grid have faced delays due to shortage of metres.
In October, Umeme sent 14,000 metres to UNBS for checks.
However, UNBS said it has tested and released 9,000 metres so far.
“The 14,000 metres came in on October 3. We have tested and released 9,000 of those. The balance should be released within two to three weeks,” the UNBS head of public relations, Mr Godwin Bonge, said yesterday.
Mr Stephen Illungole, Umeme’s media relations manager, said there are at least 15,000 applicants waiting to be connected.
Government is currently working towards increasing access to electricity from the current national average of 22 per cent to 60 per cent by 2027.
Rural Electrification Agency has secured $94m (Shs352b) in loans for the project.
