Muzamir Kasuswa, chairperson of Nawampanda Market, says over 214 traders dealing in beverages, music shops, and cinema halls have been left idle. According to Kasuswa, many youths in the area depend on small businesses for survival, but the unreliable power supply is stifling economic activity.
Residents of Butagaya Sub-County and Namagera Town Council in Jinja District are grappling with persistent power outages, which they say have crippled their businesses. Many of the affected individuals operate maize mills and beverage businesses, which heavily rely on a stable electricity supply. They say the one-month-long blackout has caused severe losses, with some businesses on the verge of collapse.
Livingstone Kiiza, a maize mill operator, says his business has come to a standstill due to the prolonged power outage. He previously employed 20 casual laborers, paying each 10,000 Shillings daily, but they are now jobless. Kiiza attempted to use generators as a backup but was forced to shut down after just three days due to high operational costs.
Muzamir Kasuswa, chairperson of Nawampanda Market, says over 214 traders dealing in beverages, music shops, and cinema halls have been left idle. According to Kasuswa, many youths in the area depend on small businesses for survival, but the unreliable power supply is stifling economic activity.
//Cue in: "Tukoseibwa ku'nsonga...
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Yazid Waiswa, chairperson of Nabukose A Village, says his institute that trains youth in computer skills has temporarily shut down due to the blackout. The institute also serves as an innovation center where young people converge to brainstorm development ideas using research materials and the internet. Waiswa warns that the idleness caused by the power crisis could push unemployed youths into crime.
//Cue in: "Tulina obulubilivu...
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Aisha Bazibu, a trader at an evening market, says the demand for fresh farm produce has surged due to an influx of tourists visiting Busowoko and Itanda Falls. However, traders are forced to close by 7:00 PM for fear of being waylaid by criminals.
She says the most profitable hours, especially on weekends, are between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM when tourists make last-minute purchases. Unfortunately, darkness has emboldened criminals, who rob traders of their earnings and physically assault them. Some customers also take advantage of the poor lighting to flee without paying for goods.
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Cue out: ...olwe'mbela eya' amasanalaze,"//
Salama Namutamba, a trader at Namagera Trading Center, says she has resorted to hiring solar lights at 1,000 Shillings per night to keep her grocery store open. While her monthly electricity bill previously stood at 25,000 Shillings, the cost of solar power has risen to 30,000 Shillings, forcing her to operate at a loss. Namutamba fears she may soon default on her loan repayments and could ultimately shut down her business if the power supply remains unstable.
//Cue in: "IfFe twekubilila endulu...
Cue out: ...osasula bwa'kitala,"//
Butagaya Sub-County LC III Chairperson, Abdullah Suuta, says local leaders have held consultative meetings with UMEME engineers, who attributed the power crisis to faulty transformers. UMEME has since agreed to uninstall the broken transformers for repairs before restoring power. Suuta urged residents to remain patient as engineers work to resolve the issue.
