Cutting Electric Poles, Stealing Wires Strangling Business, Homelife in Nyenga

The business community at Nyenga division in Njeru Municipality Buikwe district have now spent close to a month in a total blackout after unknown people cut down electric poles and even took off with the electric wires.

The most affected people are from the villages of Tongolo, Busaana, Kavule and Kikondo landing site. URN has counted five electric poles cut down  at Kavule with the wires that had been connected missing.

The situation has mostly affected people with maize processing mills, welders, electrical shops, saloon operators and other vendors operating electrical appliances to preserve various sorts of drinks and fruits that easily go bad in a short period of time.

According to John Kasagga, a maize processor and seller at Nyenga, they gave up opening up the milling center for clients after losing hope for power supply being restored in the foreseeable future.

He notes that using a generator to process maize flour is much more expensive following the increase in fuel prices. He reveals that they have now incurred costs for hiring a security guard to protect maize grains brought to the mill by farmers as they wait for the restoration of power lines.

Another trader owning an electrical shop at Busaana, James Mugomba says besides lacking capacity to fuel generators, they have been completely pushed out of business since no customers come to their shops for goods and services.

//Cue in: “Batusalira amasanyalaze...//

Cue out: ...tebakyanywa.”//

Nyenga Division Vice Chairperson Charles Bobo says they reported the matter to concerned authorities though have never received any feedback on the matter. He adds that several businesses had received a boost ever since they received power supply in the area but currently they are struggling.

//Cue in: “Tukoseddwa tubadde...//

Cue out: ...tuli mukizikiza.”//

Our efforts to reach out to Umeme on the matter are still unsuccessful. 

However, Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa Regional Police Spokesperson says so far three people have been arrested for allegedly cutting poles and stealing wires. She adds that the hunt for others connected to the same crimes is still ongoing.