The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) has announced tough new measures against scrap dealers and steel factories believed to be fuelling a surge in electricity infrastructure vandalism.
The sweeping measures follows the destruction of two transmission towers in Mukono North earlier this month that has severely disrupted supply to the metropolitan complex.
Officials from both UETCL and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) told journalists on Thursday that the agencies are preparing to launch major operations to disrupt illegal scrap-metal channels amid growing frustration from affected industries.
During a site visit, engineers were seen working around the clock to erect emergency poles with the aim of restoring power to the area by Saturday.
The outage has severely disrupted operations in Mukono’s industrial zone, leaving factories idle and forcing thousands of employees into involuntary suspension.
Muhammed Lubogo, UETCL public and corporate affairs manager, said industries have borne the brunt of the damage.
“The worst affected were the industries as jobs were suspended and more than 6,000 workers were not working,” Lubogo said.
He noted that engineers have already set up a temporary line feeding into the Mukono Substation and cleared debris from the fallen towers.
Installation of the cross arm is expected tomorrow, though progress has been slowed by poor road conditions and fresh cases of vandalism on neighbouring structures.
UEDCL spokesperson Jonan Kiiza highlighted the staggering economic cost of the sabotage.
“Vandals cost the agency Shs250 million per day, totalling Shs2.3 billion in industrial revenue in nine days without power,” Kiiza said.
He added that UEDCL is moving to crack down on scrap dealers and steel factories involved in buying stolen electricity components. Kiiza urged Ugandans to play an active role in the fight against vandalism.
“We are not against steel factories and scrap dealers, but we want their production to be in legal channels,” he said, calling on the public to report suspicious activity and condemn acts that threaten both the economy and national security.
Police in Mukono have arrested one suspect in connection with the destruction of the two towers as investigations into other individuals continue.