Media practitioners in Kabale District have raised concerns over persistent electricity instability in the Kigezi region, saying the problem is disrupting service delivery, particularly in the media sector.
The concerns were raised on Wednesday during an engagement workshop organised by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) in partnership with the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) at Orchard Hotel in Kigongi, Kabale Municipality.
Journalists and media managers said frequent power interruptions, high electricity tariffs and delayed connections continue to affect businesses and households across the region.
Atuhwera Joel, popularly known as “Uncle Nature” and manager of Hills FM in Kabale District, said vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure have worsened the power situation.
He cited incidents in Mwanjari and Bugongi where electricity wires were stolen and equipment vandalised, limiting the ability of some radio stations to broadcast effectively to their audiences.
Joel also raised concern about the high cost of electricity, noting that some radio stations receive power bills exceeding Shs400,000 every two weeks. He called on the Electricity Regulatory Authority and UEDCL to review electricity tariffs to ease the burden on media houses and other businesses.
Meanwhile, Kabale-based journalist Kakogoso Vanansio expressed frustration over delays in electricity connections.
Vanansio explained that after wiring his house in Bushuro, he paid Shs100,000 to UEDCL staff on October 15, 2025 for connection, but the process stalled due to a shortage of short wires.
He also cited a case of another journalist who reportedly paid Shs270,000 for repair of a disconnected circuit, yet the problem has remained unresolved for more than six months.
Other journalists, including Javilla Twijukye of Rubanda FM and Samuel Namanya of Uganda Radio Network, raised concerns about the malfunctioning of Muvumbe Dam in Maziba, which supplies electricity neighbouring Rwanda, skipping residents in the area.
According to the journalists, the dam’s malfunction has disrupted services at Maziba Health Centre IV and the Maziba Pineapple Factory, affecting health service delivery and local economic activities.
In response, Ian Namanya, the Territorial Manager of UEDCL, acknowledged several challenges affecting electricity distribution in the region.
These include wayleave violations, failure by communities to cut trees near power lines, vandalism, illegal electricity connections, power theft and poor reporting of electricity-related problems by the public.
Namanya, however, assured electricity consumers that efforts are underway to improve the reliability of the power network in Kigezi.
He said the company plans to replace rotten electricity poles and upgrade the transmitter and transformer at Kabale Power Substation from 2.5 MVA to 5 MVA in order to strengthen the distribution network.
According to Namanya, electricity availability in the region has improved to about 95 percent since April 2025.
Meanwhile, Robert Kahunga, the Consumer Affairs Officer at the Directorate of Corporate and Consumer Affairs at ERA, revealed that more than 24 people have been arrested in connection with vandalism and electricity theft.
He warned that individuals found guilty risk facing up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to Shs1 billion.
Kahunga also urged electricity consumers to pay their bills on time to avoid disconnection and support efforts aimed at improving power service delivery in the region.
