The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has unveiled stringent measures to fight against the vice of vandalizing power cables and electricity infrastructure, which costs the government over Shs 2Bn in repairs.
The new tough measures have been issued by the State Minister for Energy Hon. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot (MP), who says the decision was reached at by the Ministry of Energy after it was observed that the scale and scope of vandalism have intensified into a systematic and well-coordinated organised crime syndicate.
“The attention of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has been drawn to the increased vandalism of the electricity infrastructure. For a while, the vice occurred randomly within isolated black spots but on a small scale. However, the scale and scope of vandalism have intensified into a systematic and well-coordinated organised crime syndicate. The increase in the vice’s magnitude affects completed lines and ongoing projects,” Minister Opolot said.
The Minister added that; “Over the weekend, two 132kV transmission lines from the Jinja-based 180MW Nalubale and 200MW Kira Hydropower Plants were vandalised, leading to extensive power blackouts in Central and Western Uganda. The 132kV Owen Falls-Lugogo Transmission Line was vandalised at Kivuvu village in Mukono district, leading to four towers falling on the ground on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 00:36 hours. Subsequently, the Owen Falls-Mukono North-Mulago Transmission Line was also vandalised at Nasuuti village in Mukono district, leading to one tower falling on the ground on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 01:10 hours.”
Hon. Opolot noted that the rampant vandalism of electricity infrastructure remains a major impediment to delivering quality and reliable power supply, especially to critical sectors such as Health and Manufacturing.
“It equally increases power project development costs, frustrates efforts to expand the Grid and accelerate access to electricity services for all Ugandans, and has overall effects on the Economy. Besides, over Ushs.2 billion is spent annually to replace vandalised power lines, on average. Replacing the five newly vandalised transmission towers will cost Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) over Ush.1 billion (over Ush.200 million each),” he explained.
Remedial Action
According to Opolot, the Ministry of Energy has since come up with the following actions which are to be implemented by relevant authorities in a bid to curb the vice;
1. The sector has been forced to commence power load-shedding of about 104MW, effective November 13, 2022.
2. The 220kV Bujagali-Kawanda evacuation line is temporarily being used to partly evacuate Nalubale and Kira power plants alongside Bujagali and Isimba power plants.
3. Switched on the expensive 50MW Namanve Thermal Power Plant, which is always on standby for emergencies.
4. UETCL (Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited) is constructing temporary structures to restore the faulted transmission lines – which are estimated to be completed by November 18, 2022.
Measures To Curb Vandalism
Minister Opolot announced that the following measures will be implemented by the Ministry to the fight against vandalism of electricity infrastructure to zero level;
1. The Ministry shall heighten collaboration with Security Agencies to investigate, arrest, and prosecute vandals before the courts of law.
2. Through the Electricity (Amendment) Act 2022, the Government has placed more stringent penalties for vandalism-related offences. The law prescribes a 12-year jail sentence, or a fine of 50,000 Currency Points (Ush. 1 billion) or both for a vandal or anyone who receives vandalised electricity materials, and 15 years of imprisonment or 100,000 Currency Points (Ush. 2 billion) or both for repeated violations.
3.The Ministry has also established a Multi-Sectoral Security Coordination Committee comprising MEMD and its Agencies; the Ministries of Defence and Veterans Affairs; Trade, Industry and Cooperatives; and Internal Affairs; the Uganda Police Force and sister security agencies. Spearheaded by MEMD, the Committee regularly meets to review progress made in implementing anti-vandalism measures that include, among others, an operation led by the Police and awareness of communities.
4. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has been tasked to make regulations for the scrap industry following investigation reports that vandalised electricity materials are traded to scrap dealers.
5. RDCs and RCCs in the most hit districts and cities are now on high alert. These include Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe, Jinja, Kamuli, Iganga, Mayuge, Bugiri, Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Oyam, Kole, Kiryandongo, Luwero, Mpigi, Masaka, Kyotera, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Kiruhura, Kazo, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Kasese, and Busia.
6. We applaud the residents of Kyamujundo village in Kakumiro district led by their LC 1 chairperson, who arrested a man found vandalising a transformer serving their village today morning on November 15, 2022.
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He noted therefore, that the Ministry appeals to the general public to desist from acts of vandalism of Electricity Infrastructure to enable the Government to deliver affordable and reliable electricity to all Ugandans effectively.
The Minister urged concerned members of the most affected communities to report the culprits to the nearest Police station or call the Electricity Regulatory Authority’s Hotline: 0200 506 000.
It should be noted that to ensure reliable electricity supply to various consumers, the Government of Uganda has supported the energy sector in constructing power lines across the country at multiple voltages.
Electricity lines at high voltage (60 kiloVolts and above) are referred to as transmission lines and are managed by UETCL.
The medium and low voltage lines (33 kiloVolts and below), referred to as distribution lines, are operated by various distribution companies, including Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and Umeme.
The total transmission network line length is 3,431km, while the distribution network length is 59,038km.
As such, a mesh of electricity lines has been constructed across the country to supply electricity to industries, businesses, government institutions, street lighting and household consumers, although this supply is always disrupted by vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
However, nonetheless, the sector continues to prioritise the construction of more electricity lines to ensure reliable power supply and accelerated electricity access.
