URN.Mercy Munduru, one of the lead petitioner, said they have so far collected more than 200 signatures from concerned citizens in region and their ultimate goal is to ensure connectivity to the national grid.
A section of residents in the West Nile region has embarked on collecting signatures to petition parliament over intermittent electricity supply in the Sub-region.
Among the key demands, the petitioners are advocating for is the non-renewal or termination of the contracts of the West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) and Electro Maxx over poor contract performance and service delivery. 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=1659615825&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%2Fwest-nile-residents-collect-signatures-over-irregular-power-supply-&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1659615825663&bpp=4&bdt=3509&idt=4&shv=r20220802&mjsv=m202207280101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Db0fdfd1e8def68a2-22f63fcfe2cd0047%3AT%3D1659503896%3ART%3D1659503896%3AS%3DALNI_MamGveJGlvmPjUnMOskOpQUe9pIPw&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0&nras=3&correlator=3387499458746&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1659615823&ga_hid=764614219&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=18&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1583&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=381&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C44763506&oid=2&psts=AEC3cPJ-s3zzL4jRtn1smXR_y5mkwqrXp-MVqRn2l033a94SDEEEiWzIGeiJFniCmltW9Y90gD4aaoIhLp-9Rg%2CAEC3cPJwB4NA1S086VwhvQ1Dq3q-qLAUFkZxk_kSZKRbtnLxbNSImugAdkGNyZUPgqOmr-c26jl8dSdIKGwPng%2CAEC3cPJrUtKl0Q7C0UTQrWHUxEK6UTDSKpuTsZmMth5nmDr3idnfKfcFflfdEn_XPhdkCDl7nTCMO_amF80&pvsid=1500649117649031&tmod=474903238&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C829&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=kJccYd9aVb&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=17
The petition which is being spearheaded bythe Citizens Action for Improved public service delivery in West Nile” (CAIPS) was launched more than a week ago through a WhatsApp platform.
The petitioners are also demanding that government should accelerate the connection of the sub-region to the national grid, which they say is long overdue.
“We pray that you direct the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development together with the Electricity Regulatory Authority to accelerate the Connection of West Nile to the national grid,” reads part of the petition.
Mercy Munduru, one of the lead petitioners, said they have so far collected more than 200 signatures from concerned citizens in the region and their ultimate goal is to ensure connectivity to the national grid.
According to Munduru, even though the government pledged to complete the Nyagk III hydropower project in Zombo district by March next year, it will not address the power demands in the region.
Bernard Atiku, the former Ayivu county Member of Parliament says the inconsistent power supply has frustrated businesses, and industrialization and plunged the sub-region further into poverty.
Mustafa Gerima, a resident of Yumbe district wonders why the sub-region is still begging for connection to the national grid despite the huge power potential in the country.
The petition comes at the time when the current contract of West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) to generate and supply the electricity in the sub-region is due to expire next year.
Over the past three weeks, power consumers in the sub-region have been up in arms with WENRECo over the continued irregular supply of electricity.
On July 19, WENRECo issued an announcement informing power consumers about the current load shading under which, business areas will be supplied during the day and residential areas in the evening owing to fuel supply constraints to run the four thermal plants at the Euata substation.
Judith Wangoic, the Spokesperson of WENRECo attributed the current power blackouts in the region to fuel supply constraints noting that they currently rely on the 3.5 Megawatts of Power generated by Nyagak I Hydro plant, which is far below the peak demand for the region which currently stands at 6.5 Megawatts.
During a recent visit to Nyagak III power dam, Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, appealed to locals to remain calm as works on the Nyagak III power dam project are still far from completion.
The 6.6MW Nyagak III power plant was meant to have been completed in September this year, but according to the contractor, it’s not possible to beat the deadline due to funding challenges.
