Residents of Lwadda B Village in Gombe Division, Nansana Municipality, have confronted officials from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) over persistent power outages and what they described as poor customer response to electricity-related complaints.
The concerns were raised during a community meeting convened by the village chairperson, Patrick Senkubuge, after residents complained that repeated reports of electricity faults often go unanswered, leaving homes and businesses without power for extended periods.
The meeting brought together UEDCL officials from various levels of management, led by Esther Mariam Nambi, head of the company's Magigye office, providing residents with an opportunity to directly present their grievances.
Several residents accused the electricity distributor of failing to respond promptly whenever faults are reported, with some saying the situation has disrupted livelihoods and affected businesses that depend on a reliable power supply.
Others went as far as comparing the current service to that of former electricity distributor Umeme Limited.
"At least Umeme would respond when we called and quickly send help, despite the challenges they faced," some residents said during the meeting.
Some residents carried faulty electricity meters as evidence of unresolved complaints, saying they had repeatedly sought assistance without success.
Robinah Katende, a resident of the area, said she had waited nearly a year to be connected to electricity despite making several follow-up visits to the company's offices.
"I applied for electricity almost a year ago and I am still living without power. I have made countless trips to the Magigye electricity office, but the response I receive makes me feel like my concerns do not matter," she said.
Another resident displayed a faulty meter and said repeated calls and visits to UEDCL offices had yielded no solution.
Business owners also reported significant losses resulting from unreliable electricity supply.
"We are no longer making even half of what we used to earn. Cold drinks have practically disappeared from this area because of the constant power problems," some traders said.
Residents noted that many people have resorted to hiring private electricians, commonly known as bakamyuufu, because they believe official channels are too slow to respond.
The meeting came shortly after UEDCL installed a new transformer in the area to address recurring outages.
Prior to its installation, residents and business operators experienced frequent interruptions that affected refrigeration services and other electricity-dependent activities.
While welcoming the transformer, Chairperson Senkubuge said prolonged blackouts had also contributed to growing insecurity in the area.
"Criminal activity increased because the area was plunged into darkness at night, giving thieves an opportunity to target residents," he said.
He also revealed that some residents had initially resisted the installation of electricity infrastructure by refusing to allow poles to pass through their properties.
"I urge residents not to obstruct development projects that are intended to benefit the entire community," he added.
Responding to the complaints, Nambi apologiaed for the inconveniences and assured residents that the company is working to improve service delivery.
"We acknowledge the concerns raised by residents and are committed to improving our operations," she said.
She explained that some outages are caused by unauthorized interventions by private electricians hired by residents to switch connections between electricity lines, resulting in disruptions to the network.
Nambi also encouraged residents with faulty or outdated electricity meters to visit UEDCL offices for assistance.
"Anyone with an old meter that is causing problems should come to our offices so that we can help resolve the matter," she said.
The meeting ended with residents calling for faster response times, improved customer care and more regular engagement between UEDCL and the communities it serves.