The Joint Security Agencies of Flying Squad, Crime Intelligence and the respective territorial units of Mukono, Lugazi, Kassangati, Kyengera and KMP South, conducted several intelligence led operations that led to the arrest of 14 suspects.
Police says the suspects are vandals and scrap dealers, who were actively involved in the malicious damage and theft of Electricity Power Lines and other utility infrastructure from the 12.11.2022 till the 30.11.2022 in Kivuvu village, Mukono , Nasuti village, Mukono Kijude village Gayaza, that led to massive power blackouts.
”An assortment of exhibits was recovered from the scrap dealers in from several parts of Kampala including Lugazi Municipality, Wakimese zone in Kyengera, social centre scrap yard, Nakitende scrap yard, and Kisenyi scrap dealers. A serious hunt for 22 other vandals and scrap dealers in on,” says Police.
Police facts gathered indicate that on the 12.11.2022 an intelligence led operation was carried out after two 132 KV transmission lines, from the Jinja based 180 MW Nalubaale and the 200 MW Kiira hydro plant were vandalized, leading to massive blackouts in the Central and Western Regions of the Country.
Additional transmission lines of the 132KV Owen Falls – Lugogo transmission lines, were also vandalized at Kivuvu village, in Mukono district, leading to the collapse of 4 towers.
”Again, on the 13.11.2022, the Owen Falls – Mukono North – Mulago transmission line, was also vandalized at Nasuuti village in Mukono district, that forced one tower to collapse to the ground,” says Police.
It adds through various intelligence led operations an assortment of over 46 pieces of electricity tower angle bars and pylons, bundles of electric cables and 3 cylinder heads were recovered and manhunt for the leaders is ongoing.
”These acts of theft and vandalism of utility infrastructure, leads to massive load shedding, which leads to high costs of replacement and also disrupts the well-being of domestic users and commercial businesses,” says Police adding;
”We implore all members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around power installations in their areas, to the local councils and nearest security agency. As the Joint Security Agencies, we remain committed to maintaining the safety of all utility infrastructure in the country and will aggressively pursue, all perpetrators causing significant damage to utility infrastructure.”
The electricity sector has suffered a string of challenges along the chain of distribution with some areas pushed into darkness due to vandalism of infrastructure such as transformers for sinister motives.
It was registered that in a span of two years, 260 billion was lost due to theft of electricity assets.
Theft of electricity and infrastructure causes a big challenge in electricity distribution causing some areas to stay in darkness due to vandalism of infrastructure like transformers.
However, following the passing of Uganda’s new Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022, Ugandans found guilty of vandalizing electricity infrastructure may face a fine of $283,764.96 (UGX 1-billion) or a 15-year jail sentence, just five years short of the Ugandan life sentence term of 20 years.