The Lwengo District Chairperson, Abas Kizito , has threatened to stage a peaceful protest against the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) over the prolonged power outage in Mbirizi Town Council, which has lasted nearly two months.
Abas expressed frustration over what he described as UEDCL’s failure to restore electricity to one of the district’s key urban and commercial centers, despite repeated appeals from local leaders and residents.
According to Abas, the main transformer serving Mbirizi Town Council broke down about three months ago, prompting district authorities to notify UEDCL and request urgent intervention. However, he claims the replacement transformer supplied by the company was faulty and leaking oil, rendering it unusable.
“Look at the transformer they brought us. It is leaking oil everywhere. I believe this company only understands one language—protest. I am prepared to camp at the UEDCL offices in Masaka until power is restored to Mbirizi,” Abas said.
Mbirizi Town Council, located in Lwengo District, serves as the administrative and commercial hub of the district. It hosts key government institutions, including the district headquarters, police offices, the Resident District Commissioner’s office, health facilities, and several private businesses.
Residents say the prolonged blackout has severely disrupted economic and social activities, particularly affecting households and businesses as parents prepare for the new school term.
“The absence of electricity has affected almost every aspect of life here because Mbirizi is the center from which most district activities are coordinated,” one resident said.
Coffee processors have also raised concerns, saying the outage has left large quantities of coffee unprocessed in factories. They noted that most processing equipment relies on three-phase hydroelectric power, which is currently unavailable.
“Coffee-processing equipment requires three-phase electricity. Without power, these machines cannot operate, and our businesses are suffering significant losses,” said coffee processor Kusain Bulungu.
The prolonged power outage has sparked growing frustration among residents and business operators, who are now demanding urgent action from UEDCL to restore electricity and prevent further economic losses.
In response, Masaka Sub-region UEDCL Manager Eng. Michael Kabanda assured residents that efforts are underway to resolve the crisis in Mbirizi Town Council.
Eng. Kabanda said the company is considering installing a new transformer to stabilize electricity supply in the area.
“The most viable solution is the installation of a new transformer, and we expect the process to be completed before the end of this week,” he said.