URN.Stephen Illongole, the head of Media Relations at Umeme Ltd, says that the operations have resumed following the increasing cases of vandalism to electricity infrastructure and illegal connections with Kampala Metropolitan areas.
Twelve suspected vandals of electricity infrastructure have been arrested in a joint operation involving the Uganda Police Force-UPDF and power distributors, Umeme in Kampala.
Nine suspects including Stephen Ssekibizi, Peter Kabilango, Ronald Kakooza, Samuel Nsubuga, Joseph Katende, Rusifa Kagwa, Daniel Kimbugwe, Liz Nambozo, and Masitula Nantongo were picked up from the lower Nsooba zone in MulagoII-Kawempe division. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=1765694914&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.3~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1658249645&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Ftwelve-held-over-vandalism-illegal-connections-in-kmp&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1658249645058&bpp=2&bdt=9425&idt=-M&shv=r20220718&mjsv=m202207140101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df673dcf29e716676-22fa0ff5cfcd00e5%3AT%3D1658146801%3ART%3D1658146801%3AS%3DALNI_MYMCHLIWk3Ke0xT8tP2Mkp0uYlm-Q&gpic=UID%3D00000789c2467025%3AT%3D1658249344%3ART%3D1658249344%3AS%3DALNI_MY1wp3-NQOlvPPnvS61C9Acl6YyJA&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345&nras=3&correlator=5001056320653&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1658249637&ga_hid=1063261140&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1569&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759842%2C44763506%2C31068472%2C31060048%2C42531606%2C31064018%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=1978185945404548&tmod=1617889652&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=UpwXnG7l8u&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=15
The other suspects namely Denis Karamira, and Jawuhara Najuma were picked up in another intelligence-led operation in Gganda-B Nansana, Wakiso district. The officers also recovered electrical equipment from the suspect’s shop.
Stephen Illongole, the head of Media Relations at Umeme Ltd, says that the operations have resumed following the increasing cases of vandalism to electricity infrastructure and illegal connections with Kampala Metropolitan areas.
He says that away from the huge losses they are making as a company, vandalism affects the entire economy at large, which has prompted their intervention. He says that suspects will appear in the courts of law for their illegal actions.
“Those will be arraigned in the utility court at Buganda road, and the new law suggests that any convicted person of vandalism or illegal connection is to pay a fine of Shillings 1 billion or imprisonment of 12 years or serving both punishments, so Ugandans should stop this habit,” he said. He says that operations against illegal connections will continue.
Illongole said that many Ugandans have lost their lives as a result of illegal connections.
Claire Nabakka, the Deputy Police spokesperson, says that among the recovered electrical appliances are high voltage wires, insulators, poles, and safety helmets.
“We would like to warn those who masquerade to be selling electrical equipment and appliances, yet their major business is to deal in vandalized equipment from communities. The operations are continuing and we shall come for them,” Nabakka said.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=632730127&pi=t.aa~a.3933768198~i.36~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1658249645&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Ftwelve-held-over-vandalism-illegal-connections-in-kmp&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1658249645058&bpp=3&bdt=9425&idt=3&shv=r20220718&mjsv=m202207140101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df673dcf29e716676-22fa0ff5cfcd00e5%3AT%3D1658146801%3ART%3D1658146801%3AS%3DALNI_MYMCHLIWk3Ke0xT8tP2Mkp0uYlm-Q&gpic=UID%3D00000789c2467025%3AT%3D1658249344%3ART%3D1658249344%3AS%3DALNI_MY1wp3-NQOlvPPnvS61C9Acl6YyJA&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345%2C414x345&nras=4&correlator=5001056320653&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1658249637&ga_hid=1063261140&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=3114&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759842%2C44763506%2C31068472%2C31060048%2C42531606%2C31064018%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=1978185945404548&tmod=1617889652&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=5&fsb=1&xpc=55y1VOVcZN&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=19
She explained that the majority of vandals masquerade either as employees of Umeme or the Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Records from the Ministry of Energy indicated that the government is losing billions of money while repairing damages in over 300 cases of vandalism on electricity infrastructures within the country that have been registered within the last two years.
