MPs, UMEME leadership urge Communities in Greater Mityana to avoid illegal Power connections

The members of parliament from the Greater Mityana area have cautioned communities to avoid illegal power connections which pose a glaring safety risk and compromise the quality of electricity and increase energy losses. 

The leaders were speaking during a Stakeholder engagement meeting in Mityana with Area Members of Parliament and District Leaders, Umeme’s Head of Metering Services Victoria Namubiru, and members of the communities.

Namubiru noted that power theft not only endangers the communities but also affects the reliability of supply and the network. She prayed for the District leadership to remind the communities about the dangers of power theft because electricity kills.

She further noted that the public should be vigilant and report any issues of power theft or people masquerading as Umeme engineers. 

Members of Parliament for the Greater Mityana and Mubende Areas raised many critical issues affecting their communities including delayed connections and power lines that have not reached their areas. 

According to Mugisha Patrick Nshiimye the Mityana District Chairperson, Umeme and Government should clear the backlog of connections because many people have waited longer. 

“Our main task as district leaders is to see that we protect these installations which have been brought to us and also sensitize our people against stealing power through illegal connections. We, however, ask Umeme and Government to expedite connections. Many people who applied have been waiting for long” Nshiimye said. 

Meanwhile Western Region Manager for Umeme, Isaac Katewanga urged communities to desist from connecting illegally to the grid but use electricity for social economic transformation. 

“We commit that we do not operate in isolation, as such these engagements are aimed at sharing ideas with our local leaders who in turn will pass on the message to the people,” Katewanga explained. 

Peter Kaujju the head of Communication for Umeme said that the utility had registered over 9 fatalities as a result of people stealing electricity.

Story by; Barbara Nalweyiso