Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa has condemned the vandalism of the 132kV Owen Falls–Mukono North–Namanve South transmission lines, which caused tower collapses, disrupted electricity supply, and claimed one life.
Describing the act as “outright criminality and economic sabotage,” Nankabirwa warned that those responsible would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
She called on security agencies, including the Uganda Police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, to treat the matter with the “utmost seriousness.”
“Vandalising power infrastructure is not just theft, it is an attack on national stability, public safety and our economic progress. We will not tolerate it,” she said.
She urged the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity around electricity infrastructure.
The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) said the incident occurred at 3:02 a.m on Tuesday interrupting supply to the Mukono North substation.
A technical team were dispatched to assess the damage and restore power as quickly as possible.
UETCL warned that tampering with power lines not only disrupts electricity supply but also endangers human life, and urged citizens to report suspected vandals to the nearest police station.