Agency
President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to establish an inter-agency security committee to decisively address the growing cases of electricity infrastructure vandalism in central Uganda.
The President’s directive follows a spate of vandalism incidents that have left several areas in Nakasongola, Luwero, and Nakaseke districts in darkness due to the destruction of electric poles and theft of wires.
While addressing the media at the State Lodge in Luwero Town during his Parish Development Model (PDM) tour, Museveni condemned the acts of sabotage and hinted at the possible use of a shoot-to-kill strategy to deter the vandals.
Museveni said he had instructed Gen. Muhoozi to form a committee comprising different security agencies to plan and implement measures to stop the vandalism.
The former power distributor, UMEME, reported in 2021 that the energy sector lost over Shs 26 billion due to stolen copper wires, vandalized transformers, and damaged poles.
One of the biggest drivers of vandalism is the scrap metal industry, which provides a market for stolen copper and steel from electricity infrastructure.
The individual’s actions are a serious offense, potentially resulting in penalties like prison time or a hefty fine, as outlined in the Electricity Amendment Act of 2022. Among the penalties contained in the Electricity Amendment Act, 2022 is the prescription to jail all persons found guilty of stealing electricity or destroying its infrastructure for 15 years or pay a UGX 1 billion fine or face both.
