Fred Enanga the Police spokesperson has revealed that their joint security in Mityana recently arrested16 suspects including 3 Umeme staff on charges of vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
According to Enanga, since the operations began in May and June this year, over 62 suspects countrywide have been arrested from their abrupt operations.
“After getting intelligence, our joint security teams carried out an operation at a guest house in Mityana where they arrested 13 suspects who were involved in a series of malicious damage and theft of electricity power lines” Enanga added.
Arrested suspects included Damba Joshua, Golooba Edward, Kasujja Peter, Nsamba Charles, Bogere Baker, Salongo sebwato, and Nakayenga Joan amongst others, who according to Enanga also involved in the vandalism of the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation pipes in Sekanyonyi town council.
These Electricity vandalism operations were also extended to several villages in Kabulasoke where Umeme staff including Nduga John, Kibalizi George a lines assistant, and Sendi Charles a driver attached to Umeme Masaka were also arrested by Police.
“We found the 3 with electric materials and wires at 8 pm and according to the information gained they were also involved in selling electricity poles which is illegal” Enanga highlighted.
The Police mouthpiece however noted that Kampala metropolitan area has the most cases of vandalism of electricity infrastructure and areas of Nsooba Mulago, Kaweempe, Kisenyi ii zone, New Taxi Park, Najanankubi, Mutundwe, Kasangati amongst others.
In the Katonga area, villages of Kiyunga, Lufuka, Buyaya, and Mpanga forest reserve in Mpigi district were also vandalized and in the Wamala region villages of Kasana A, Busimbi village in Mubende district amongst others were also affected.
Furious Enanga also noted that acts of theft and vandalism of utility infrastructure underscore the need to publicly disseminate information on the importance and benefits of utility infrastructure in the energy and water sector.
Police urged the members of the public to remain vigilant and to report to them suspicious activities around power installations in their areas.
Police also noted that their primary concern is to maintain the safety of the utility infrastructure and to pursue the perpetrators who cause significant damage to them.
In that spirit, Police reminded members of the public that the reward for information leading to the arrest of electricity infrastructure vendors is still on for all those who will continue to give the task team credible information.
The amended Electricity Act signed on June 8th, provided for increased penalties for power theft and vandalism.
Section 81of the Act states that “A person convicted of an offense under this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding 12 years or both”
Currently, Umeme is Uganda’s main electricity distribution company that took over the operation of electricity power distribution network in March 2005 which was being operated by UEDCL under a 20-year concession arrangement.
