The Principal Security Officer at Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) Ronald Bogere has revealed that persons involved in the vandalism of electricity infrastructure will be arrested and charged with terrorism.

He made remarks while addressing security officers from Police CID, RDCs and ISO during a training workshop organised by Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) on the new Electricity Amendment Act 2022 particularly on clauses to deter vandalism of electricity infrastructure, at Hotel Triangle in Kampala.

The training followed the growing cases of vandalism of electricity towers and poles in Kampala Metropolitan.

Bogere revealed that from November 12, 2022 security started getting numerous cases of vandalism and it has been discovered that the issue is no longer about people picking out metallic angles but there are cases where criminals simply cut towers and go. The affected areas are in Mukono and where two towers were vandalized affecting other two towers causing loss of four towers.

He added that the criminals the following day in Nama Mukono vandalized another tower.

“The criminals didn’t stop at that but also descended on Bujagali-Kawanda 220KV line and also brought it down. Another line of 132KV line (Nalubaale -Kampala North) also had its tower cut down maliciously,” he revealed.

He added, “These lines are one of the vital national assets that push our economy. Unfortunately, some people have not appreciated this”.

In Mukono alone, eight towers were brought down while in Kasana-Luweero five were also brought down.

“On average, a tower costs UGx 360 million depending on the size to be restored and all this money is going to be paid by us tax payers,”

“This therefore, shows the extent of the problem we face and that’s a matter where we need all security agencies to come on board and fight this vice” he said.

On the same note, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) legal officer and prosecutor Charlotte Kyohairwe said that ERA is working with the ministry for trade and industry to come up with a law regulating scrap dealers.

She also took the officers through the new Electricity Act 2022 particularly section 85A which lists offences and penalities for those caught vandalising electricity infrastructure.

The law; she explained punishes anyone who cuts, stores, transports, illegally connects a meter, damages any meter among other acts.

“It’s an offence for one to move from one place to another any electric supply line, material, meter or public lamp without the consent of the licensee or owner. A person who commits an offense under this new law is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand currency points (Shs 1bn) or imprisonment not exceeding 12 years or both,” Kyohairwe noted.

She also warned truck drivers not to fall victims of this new law as they they are the ones who transport scrap some of which is electricity material. She said that the law will catch them whether they carry them knowingly or not.

Kyohairwe also asked the public to be vigilant and always ask people who climb electric poles for their valid work permits issued by ERA or Umeme.

She strongly believes that vandalism can be dealt with if all stakeholders have the same goal and ERA intends to continue sensitizing CID officers to better appreciate the law.

“Vandalism can be dealth with if we have the same goal. ERA intends to continue sensitizing CID officers to better appreciate the law. The cost of vandalism is too high and it affects the tariff” she said.

ERA’s director for corporate and consumer affairs Mr. Julius Wandera described the current vandalism as unacceptable.

“The country is bleeding. There are people who are deliberately bent on bringing this economy down. They are amongst us, they are traders, business people, they leave with us. For the sake of personal gain, they have decided to put our sector down. If you look at the losses Uganda has made in vandalism, it’s in billions” he said but promised that ERA is going to embark on more sensitization programs for the community to be vigilant.

Development:

The Capital Times has further learnt that the National Taskforce on combating Electricity infrastructure vandalism has recommended that the National Security Council takes over the matter.

Recently, the government formed a taskforce to probe into the rampant cases of electricity infrastructure vandalism and also make recommendations. The taskforce comprises of security agencies, State House, Electricity Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral development whose Permanent secretary Eng. Irene Bateebe chairs the taskforce.

It has also been discovered that currently, there is a disjoint between utility companies and security organs and sometimes the organs clash during operations.

There are also reports of some vandals impersonating CMI claiming that some of its officers are behind them.

The reports came to light recently (on Monday 19th December 2022) during a training workshop for security personnel including CIDs on the new Electricity Act 2022 with a view of popularizing it’s stringent provisions against vandalism. The meeting was organised by Electricity Regulatory Authority in Kampala.