The Minister of State for Energy, Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, has decried the increased vandalism of the electricity infrastructure in the country, saying the scale and scope of vandalism have intensified into a systematic and well-coordinated organised crime syndicate.
Okaasai noted that the increase in the vice’s magnitude affects completed lines and ongoing projects.
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 minister revealed 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.
He noted that this also 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.
Okaasai revealed that over UGX2billion is spent annually to replace vandalized power lines.
“Besides, over Ushs.2 billion is spent annually to replace vandalised power lines, on average,” adding, “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 now says that the sector has been forced to commence power load-shedding of about 104MW, effective November 13 to 15, 2022.
In order to curb the vice, 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.
The Minister noted that 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, among others.
The Ministry also appealed 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.