Minister for Energy and Mineral Development addressing reporters at Uganda Media Center
By George Bukenya
Constant road shading for power in the country is planned and will take two years , according to the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa.
Whereas government is investigating massively to improve service delivery there’s a lot that needs to be done in order to refurbish the whole system of power supply.
While addressing reporters Nankabirwa argued the public to allow Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to grow if they need better services and enjoy constant power supply.
Rampant power disconnection is due to increase in the number new consumers connected yet the transformers can’t accommodate such huge numbers to avoid complete destroying of the system there must be road shading the Minister asserts.
“As UEDCL We’re still a baby therefore we need to be allowed to pass through stages and grow and serve the nation well, we need time to refurbish the system and we are on course so far, “Hon. Nankabirwa explained.
” We’re investigating a lot to enhance the system for instance we have acquired seven acres of Land in Ntinda for the construction of another sub-station to ease on the high traffic on the existing o one and once the construction is completed then supply will be improved.” She added.
The Minister also revealed that UEDCL will construct a 400 kw along Nimule- Juba road, courtesy of African Development Bank loan and this will ease road shading in the Northern districts.
Other sub-stations according to the Minister will be constructed at Africa Coffee Park in Masaka, Kasana Luweero, Nkanda Bulisa in Hoima district, and Buloba in Wakiso and the later will be completed by February next year.
Hon. Nankabirwa also announced that she has extended the ‘ Wetereze’ a
for consumers who got illegal connections for another three months and denounce their habits and utilize this chance to get free legal connection.
A total of 22,360 illegal consumers have denounced their behavior and have thought proper legal connection since the leeway was announced.
In an effort to curb vandalism, many suspects have been arrested since UEDCL took over four months ago and of these 62 have been successfully prosecuted and convicted.