By Ouni Jaspher
GULU CITY: The Anti-Bush Burning Campaign has been launched by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) in response to the devastating impact of recent bush burning activities on their electricity distribution infrastructure.
This illegal and dangerous practice, predominantly seen in the North-East, Northern, and West Nile regions, has resulted in prolonged power outages for hundreds of customers.
According to UEDCL’s Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs, Jonan Kiiza, 47 medium voltage poles have been lost in the dry season, greatly affecting the both the institution and local consumers.
He also expressed concern over the vandalism.
Kiiza said the vice is also becoming rampant in Lango sub-region yet most electricity poles are wooden and highly vulnerable to fire, resulting in heavy losses and increased vandalism when power lines are de-energized.
He warned that bush burning and vandalism are criminal offences under the Electricity Act, with penalties of up to one billion shillings in fines or a jail term of up to 15 years or both.
Kiiza added that UEDCL will rolle out community engagements, radio sensitization programs, and partnerships with cultural, religious, and local leaders of Lango and Acholi to promote behavioral change and protect electricity infrastructure.
Colline Korbyo, the UEDCL area manager in charge Gulu, Omoro and Oyam districts said in January they have done 2,375 connections as 983 connections are still pending.
She noted that other things, they do is cash collection and make sure that customers are billed and the money is collected.
Ssempiira Paul Ssewava, the UEDCL head commercial and operations services said the impact of burning poles is vast to the company and on individuals who use power especially for business.
He expressed dismay about the vice because the government spends a lot of money to ensure there’s reliable power supply in the community but some people chose to burn poles ignorantly.
