Mukono – In an engagement meeting held on October 5, 2023, Umeme discussed its plan to deter vandalism by placing cameras on transmission towers. The meeting was attended by Mukono District leaders, including Ms. Fatuma Ndisaba, the Mukono RDC, and Mr. Nicholas Nabaasa, the Mukono District police community liaison officer. Its purpose was to update the district leadership on Umeme’s services, challenges, and potential solutions.
Umeme, in an effort to combat the widespread vandalism of power transmission lines and distribution infrastructure across Uganda, is exploring the installation of cameras on all the towers. Mr. Peter Kaujju, the Umeme head of communications and marketing, stated during the engagement in Mukono Town that they have more than 1 million towers across the country. They are considering placing cameras in strategic locations as part of their mandate to secure the power infrastructure. This mandate extends until 2025.
According to Mr. Kaujju, the cameras will serve a dual purpose: capturing vandals and deterring potential wrongdoers from engaging in such activities.
When asked about the cost-effectiveness of this investment, considering Umeme’s mandate ends in two years, Mr. Kaujju emphasized that the electricity infrastructure belongs to Ugandans, making it essential to protect it.
Vandalism of electricity infrastructure has been a significant issue nationwide, with Mukono and Buikwe districts experiencing the highest number of cases.
