• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Scrap industry highlighted as main consumer of vandalized Electricity Infrastructure

Stephen Kalema by Stephen Kalema
3 years ago
in National, News
1 0
Minister Sidronius Okaasai Opolot

Minister Sidronius Okaasai Opolot

ShareTweetSendShare

The Minister of State for Energy Okaasai Sidronius Opolot has said rampant vandalism of electricity infrastructure remains a major impediment to delivering quality and reliable power supply, especially to critical sectors such as Health and Manufacturing.

While addressing journalists at Uganda Media Center on Tuesday, Minister Okaasai said of late,  the scale and scope of vandalism have intensified into a systematic and well-coordinated organized crime syndicate.

According to the Minister, over the weekend, two 132kV transmission lines from the Jinja-based 180MW Nalubale and 200MW Kira Hydropower Plants were vandalized, leading to extensive power blackouts in Central and Western Uganda.

The 132kV Owen Falls-Lugogo Transmission Line was also vandalized at Kivuvu village in Mukono district, leading to four towers falling on the ground on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 00:36 hours. Subsequently, the Owen Falls-Mukono North-Mulago Transmission Line was also vandalized at Nasuuti village in Mukono district, leading to one tower falling on the ground on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 01:10 hours.

“The increase in the vice’s magnitude affects completed lines and ongoing projects. However, according to investigation reports, vandalized electricity materials are traded to scrap dealers. Therefore, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has been tasked to make regulations for the scrap industry,” he said.

He added that vandalism has equally increased power project development costs, frustrated efforts to expand the Grid and accelerated access to electricity services for all Ugandans, and has overall negatively affected the Economy.

“Besides, over Ushs.2 billion is spent annually to replace vandalized power lines, on average. Replacing the five newly vandalized transmission towers will cost Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) over Ush.1 billion (over Ush.200 million each). Because of this, the sector has been forced to commence power load-shedding of about 104MW, effective November 13, 2022.”

Other remedial actions the minister has put in place include; the temporal evacuation of the 220kV Bujagali-Kawanda line to be used to partly evacuate Nalubale and Kira power plants alongside Bujagali and Isimba power plants. And switching off the expensive 50MW Namanve Thermal Power Plant, which is always on standby for emergencies.

As a way of curbing this vice, the ministry of energy has heightened collaboration with Security Agencies to investigate, arrest, and prosecute vandals before the courts of law. Through the Electricity (Amendment) Act 2022, the Government has placed more stringent penalties for vandalism-related offences. The law prescribes a 12-year jail sentence or a fine of 50,000 Currency Points (Ush.1 billion) or both for a vandal or anyone who receives vandalized electricity materials, and 15 years of imprisonment or 100,000 Currency Points (Ush.2 billion) or both for repeated violations.

The Ministry has also established a Multi-Sectoral Security Coordination Committee comprising MEMD and its Agencies; the Ministries of Defense and Veterans Affairs; Trade, Industry and Cooperatives; and Internal Affairs; the Uganda Police Force and sister security agencies. Spearheaded by MEMD, the Committee regularly meets to review progress made in implementing anti-vandalism measures that include, among others, an operation led by the Police and awareness of communities.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com

ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

News

Young Star Generous Kabarongo Determined to Contest as a Woman Member of Parliament For Lyantonde District

19th May 2025 at 10:37
News

“Expose any misuse of PDM funds”- President Museveni tasks Tooro journalists

19th May 2025 at 10:15
News

US FDA accepts innovative diabetes and weight loss drug application from Uganda’s Dei BioPharma

19th May 2025 at 07:03
Next Post
Samuel Lukanga

SAMUEL LUKANGA: From Abuja Treaty, Sirte Declaration to United States of Africa; The struggle continues!

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    999 shares
    Share 400 Tweet 250
  • Sudhir’s son Rajiv Ruparelia perishes in fatal motor accident 

    49 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 12
  • President Museveni proposes neutral Tororo city as compromise in Japadhola-Iteso dispute 

    19 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Why Would Rajiv Ruparelia Be Cremated on Tuesday?

    14 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Has Billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia Replaced Rajiv with Sister Sheena in Managing the Ruparelia Group of Companies?

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Young Star Generous Kabarongo Determined to Contest as a Woman Member of Parliament For Lyantonde District

19th May 2025 at 10:37

Frank Gashumba Spills Tea on New Love: Defends Malaika, Slams ‘Losers’ and Shares Surprising Secrets

19th May 2025 at 10:32

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia has dominated the Uganda rich list for more than a decade

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

Young Star Generous Kabarongo Determined to Contest as a Woman Member of Parliament For Lyantonde District

19th May 2025 at 10:37

Frank Gashumba Spills Tea on New Love: Defends Malaika, Slams ‘Losers’ and Shares Surprising Secrets

19th May 2025 at 10:32

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda