The aggrieved power consumers, mainly residents of Palabek Kal, Lamwo, Padibe and Madi Opei town councils and other major trading centres note that the unplanned power blackouts have lasted for over four months now.
Residents of Lamwo district have expressed their dissatisfaction
with power supplier Pader Abim Community Multipurpose Electricity Cooperatives Society
Limited (PACMECS) over the consistent power outages.
The aggrieved power consumers, mainly residents of Palabek Kal,
Lamwo, Padibe and Madi Opeitown
councils and other major trading centresnote that the unplanned
powerblackouts have lasted for over four months now.
Justine Owor, the councillor representing Palabek Kal Town Council,
says since April they have been experiencing inconsistent power supply without explanation
from officials of PACMECS.
Charles Okene, the proprietor of ADC Welding Workshop in Lamwo Town
Council says that the power outages have has a huge impact on his business. Okene
explains that he is forced to transport welding materials for refurbishment
works to Kitgum Municipality which is costly and time-wasting.
Godfrey Oyet, another businessman operating a photo studio in Madi
Opei says the power outages have left them jobless. He says that they cannot
use other alternative power sources like generators or solar because they are
expensive.
Noel Okiya, the Palabek Kal Town Council LCIII Chairperson says
that the power blackouts at night are to blame for the increased crime rates in
the area. He says that criminals take advantage of the darkness to terrorize
residents in homes and on the roadsides.
He adds that the power distributors closed their area branch office
which has deprived the power consumers of access to information and immediate
response.
The Urban Council III Chairperson for Padibe Town Council Richard
Oballim Omoo says the power outages have greatly affected the operations of the
health centre IV. He says the health facility relies on generators which are
expensive to run for weeks.
//Cue: “yat mapol…..
Cue out: ….bedo tye”//
The PACMECs General Manger Isaac Odongo attributed the outages to
the on-going general maintenance of power lines in Pader, Abim and Agago
districts. Odonga however says they are also considering boosting manpower
based in Kitgum to ensure effective response towards power restoration and
maintenance of defects on the service lines in the districts of Kitgum and
Lamwo.
Dan Michael Komakech
Freelancer