Umeme needs to improve service delivery

This week, Speaker of Parliament Rebbecca Kadaga  directed the Energy Minister to show up in two weeks and brief the House on complaints that Umeme connects only wealthy customers onto the grid and that it has allegedly not served paid-up citizens over the last two years.

This directive excited public debate, especially on social media. Here are  views from some readers :
In a failed system, everything fails.I paid for a coffee internal trade licence in March 2019, but up to now, they tell me that the lady who works on them is on leave. Generally, most government departments are non-functional .Ladifunsi Kikolo Ssimbwa

It is not only with electricity but even when it comes to water.  The wealthy are given priority. This country doesn’t belong to a certain group of people. Anna Ane

This is very true because in my village, Bukiro Kashari South, poles were diverted to homesteads of people with money thus leaving us in darkness yet we all pay local service tax amongst others.  Fillz Atuhaire
            
Umeme has the right to do as it pleases because this is a business venture looking at maximizing profits and minimizing costs. If we wanted services for all, we shouldn’t have privatised it.   Roniking Nsubuga

I am in Hoima City,  Ibambara Village, near Kasingo Hoima District Headquarters.Electricity poles just stopped about 200 metres from my house but I don’t expect power in many years to come.Minister of Energy, should visit Hoima oil city. Tom Kato 

I paid my money in 2019 for a meter but since then, everytime I try to call them,they always say next month.  Up to now,  I am still waiting for ‘next month’, that’s Uganda
Rogers Ouma