Summary:
- The street lights lining the Mbarara – Kabale – Kisoro highway, installed by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) in February 2016 under the contract of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), have failed to illuminate the town as intended. Originally supplied by the Kiboko Group of Companies, these lights were guaranteed for two years but began showing signs of disrepair after just 11 months. Despite efforts to switch them from solar to Umeme electricity, the climatic conditions of Kabale district have posed ongoing challenges, rendering the majority of them inoperative.
KABALE: Kabale town has been shrouded in darkness due to the nonfunctional street lights, leaving residents anxious about potential theft and robbery for nearly a month now.
The street lights lining the Mbarara – Kabale – Kisoro highway, installed by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) in February 2016 under the contract of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), have failed to illuminate the town as intended. Originally supplied by the Kiboko Group of Companies, these lights were guaranteed for two years but began showing signs of disrepair after just 11 months. Despite efforts to switch them from solar to Umeme electricity, the climatic conditions of Kabale district have posed ongoing challenges, rendering the majority of them inoperative.
In stark contrast to its daytime charm, Kabale town presents a vastly different picture at night, with only the occasional flicker of car headlights cutting through the darkness. Emmanuel Byamugisha Sentaro highlights that the primary purpose of installing these lights was to combat insecurity, yet over 100 nonfunctional street lights currently under the oversight of the Uganda National Roads Authority belie that intention.
Byamugisha stresses the difficulties encountered since upgrading to Umeme electricity, citing frequent disconnections. He calls upon both the Uganda Roads Authority and the central government to address outstanding payments, advocating for improved security services for the people of Kabale.
However, Peter Kaujju, Head of Communications at Umeme, assures that they are diligently investigating the root cause of the problem. He clarifies that Umeme did not disconnect the street lights and assures that their teams are working tirelessly to rectify the situation.
CUE IN KAUJJU…..ON THE MATTER….ENG//
Allan Ssempebwa, PRO of the Uganda Roads Authority, acknowledges the technical challenge with the street lights, confirming that approximately 10% of them are currently inactive in Kabale town. He assures that the assessment process has begun, with the issues identified, and they are awaiting finances to initiate repairs. Ssempebwa expresses optimism that funds will be secured by the end of the month to address the nonfunctional street lights effectively.
CUE IN SSEMPEBWA….ON THE MATTER…..ENG//
