Residents of Moroto are grappling with a prolonged power crisis following a malfunction in Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) meters, which have failed to load electricity tokens for nearly a week.
The outage has disrupted households and businesses, fuelling frustration and concerns over UEDCL’s ability to manage power distribution effectively.
Public establishments such as Porena Spree, a popular bar and accommodation facility, have been severely affected, forcing them to rely on costly generators.
“We tried several times to load power, but the system failed. It has been a tough period for us,” said Kevin Papa Emmanuel, the facility’s manager.
Vincent Abura, a resident of Junior Quarters, shared a similar experience.
“I loaded power for three consecutive days, but nothing worked. It was frustrating,” he said.
While some meters have since been restored, the issue persists in other areas.
John Logira, a resident of Campswahili, said his meter suddenly accepted the token after three days of failed attempts.
“I was surprised when it finally worked after days of struggling,” he said.
However, Peter Angella from Katanga remains among those still affected.
“My meter keeps beeping and has refused to load the token. I don’t know what to do anymore,” he said in frustration.
The outage has raised concerns about UEDCL’s technical readiness as it prepares to take over electricity distribution from UMEME in April 2025. Many residents are calling for immediate intervention and assurances that such failures will not become routine once UEDCL assumes full control.
As of now, UEDCL has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.