back to top
HomeNational NewsTrespass: UETCL Ordered To Pay 200M For Illegally Installing High Voltage Power...

Trespass: UETCL Ordered To Pay 200M For Illegally Installing High Voltage Power Lines In Private Land

Published on

- Advertisement -spot_img

The High Court has ruled against the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) for unlawfully installing high-voltage power lines over private land without compensating the owner. The court directed the company to pay Shs 200 million in damages and an additional Shs 200,000 per day until full compensation is made.

The case was filed by Rafella Adong, who sued UETCL for running transmission cables over her 2.023-hectare property in Nalubudde, Entebbe, without her consent. Represented by lawyer Gunter Piber, Adong argued that the company’s actions violated Article 26 of the Ugandan Constitution, which protects property rights and mandates compensation before land acquisition.

UETCL, in its defense, claimed that it had offered Adong Shs 198 million as compensation, which she rejected. The company further argued that since no pylons had been installed on her land only overhead cables it had not interfered with her ability to use the property. Additionally, UETCL stated that Adong was an absentee landowner and difficult to reach.

Justice Musa Ssekaana, who presided over the case, ruled in Adong’s favor, affirming that her property rights had been violated. He emphasized that land ownership extends beyond the surface to the airspace above, making UETCL’s installation of power lines without consent an illegal act.

“The plaintiff holds a legal title to the land, and it is clear that the transmission project has affected her ability to fully utilize the property,” the judge stated in his ruling.

The court awarded Adong Shs 100 million in general damages and another Shs 100 million as punitive damages. Additionally, UETCL must pay a daily fine of Shs 200,000 from the judgment date until full compensation is made. However, this ruling does not cover the actual value of the land itself.

Adong had initially demanded Shs 3.4 billion, citing unlawful occupation of her land for 348 days between March 2023 and July 2024. The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of due process in land acquisition and reinforces the need for companies to respect property rights.

Related

Mukono Residents Demand Accountability From Hon. Nsibwa Fred Kagwa Over Theatre Construction Funds At Nakifuma Health Centre III

Mukono residents are demanding accountability from Hon. Nsibwa Fred Kagwa, the Member of Parliament...

Shincheonji Taekwondo Team Wins Medals Again At International Competition, Shining On The Global Stage

At the 2025 Park Chung-hee Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships: 4 Gold, 7 Silver,...

Bebe Cool Reflects On Key Lessons From His Kenya and Dar es Salaam Media Tour

After two weeks in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, promoting his Break the Chains...

Kadaga Dumps Namuganza As Allies Suffer Defeat In NRM Primaries

Veteran politician and First Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, appears to have...

More from The Capital Times

Business Boom In Namugongo Ahead Of Martyrs Day

Business has picked up this morning at Namugongo Martyrs shrine according to traders. The...

Minister Kasolo In Hot Soup Over Alleged Orungo Voter Attacks Accused Of Orchestrating Violence Fo Intimidate Opponents in NRM Primaries

A political storm is brewing in Orungo sub-county after shocking allegations emerged linking Uganda’s...

African contemporary singer Liboi pairs up with Kenyan producer Kayrop on new single “twende sote”

NAIROBI - JULY 11, 2025 — African contemporary singer Liboi has teamed up withKenyan...