RUBIRIZI, Uganda — Residents of Busonga 1A, Busonga 2A and Busonga 2B villages in Nyakashozi Parish, Kicwamba Subcounty, Rubirizi District, are protesting a prolonged power blackout following the theft of electricity wires by unknown criminals.
The residents accuse officials from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) of negligence and have called upon security agencies to intervene and investigate the matter urgently.
According to Mr. Birungi Christopher, the LC1 Chairperson of Busonga Village, the area has spent nearly three weeks without electricity after thieves reportedly cut down power poles and stole electricity wires.
He said the blackout has greatly affected businesses, led to losses among traders whose goods have gone bad, and increased insecurity in the area due to darkness at night.
“We have reported the matter to both UEDCL officials and the police, but no action has been taken so far. That is why residents decided to raise their voices through the media,” Birungi said.
He further alleged that some UEDCL workers could be connected to the theft, claiming that only trained electricity workers know how to climb poles and remove power wires professionally.
Residents reportedly saw suspicious people moving in the area shortly before the electricity wires disappeared. They suspect the stolen wires were later sold elsewhere.
Birungi warned that residents are frustrated and may take the law into their own hands if the suspected thieves are caught.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kawa Evarist, the Chairperson of Busonga Catholic Church, said the community is now living in fear because criminals are taking advantage of the darkness.
He revealed that thieves have already raided Busonga Parents School and stolen animals from residents during the blackout period.
Ms. Specioza Kamugisha, a trader at Busonga Trading Centre, said she has suffered huge losses after all her goods went bad due to lack of electricity.
“I took a loan to start this business, but now I do not know how I will repay it because everything has been destroyed,” she lamented.
Kamugisha appealed to the government and UEDCL to restore power immediately, saying children can no longer study properly at night while traders fear attacks from thieves targeting their shops.
She added that the area currently lacks adequate security because of the prolonged darkness.
However, Agume Samuel, a UEDCL technician in Rubirizi, confirmed the incident and said a theft case had already been opened at the police station.
He said investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the suspects behind the vandalism and theft of electricity wires.
Agume clarified that all genuine UEDCL workers carry official identification cards and urged residents to remain vigilant against impostors pretending to be company staff.
“If residents find suspicious people claiming to be UEDCL workers, they should arrest them and hand them over to police,” he said.
He strongly condemned the vandalism of electricity infrastructure, warning that anyone found stealing electricity wires would be arrested, prosecuted, and taken to court.
Agume also appealed to those involved in the illegal activity to stop immediately, especially individuals disguising themselves as UEDCL employees to carry out theft in villages.
