Whoever gave President Museveni wrong information that made the President hate and terminate UMEME’s contract and propose UEDCL to manage power distribution in the country was a serious enemy of development in our country.
Yes, UMEME could have had its own challenges, but honestly, load shedding was not as rampant as it is now under UEDCL.
In fact, the Managing Director of UEDCL and her team should have resigned two months ago rather than occupying those offices, where they only have the advantage of changing clothes, applying make-up, going for retreats and outings while the entire country is facing chronic load shedding.
This is my own opinion, and I am entitled to it. Eng. Joselyine Rwabwongo Rwakakooko and her entire team have completely failed to manage UEDCL. What they can manage as of now is maybe running a department of marketing coffins.
I get disturbed that our neighbouring countries, which use our power, do not experience this kind of chronic load shedding.
Load shedding is worse in Soroti. Even a mere small wind or cloudy weather can cause power to go off for three days. I am surprised that an earthquake can hit Japan for five days, but power remains stable, unlike with UEDCL, where just two birds kissing each other on the wires can cause power to go off for two days.
This load shedding is making poor youths pay double loans because whenever they try to do work that requires power, such as metal fabrication, power goes off, yet they are supposed to make doors and windows and sell them to repay the loans they borrowed for their businesses.
Even with their load shedding, connecting power to someone’s home is exorbitantly expensive.
I am still shocked to this day that I was told to pay Shs3.5 million for each pole, yet the distance from the main power line to my village centre would require about 11 poles, meaning I have to pay Shs38,500,000. Yet this is a service that should be free, given the fact that someone has to keep paying for Yaka units.
Ugandans should just forget about this load shedding and embrace solar systems to avoid this Darkness Company Limited.
In fact, a good solar system can cost someone Shs3 million to Shs4 million without having to pay for so-called Yaka units every time. Even when it rains or is windy, the power will remain on.
The writer is a senior veteran journalist.
