Tree cutting causes at least three incidents of damage to electricity conductors daily, resulting in power outages across the Greater Kabale region, according to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
For years, residents of Greater Kabale, which comprises Kabale, Rukiga and Rubanda districts, have complained about unreliable electricity supply, citing business losses, damage to electrical appliances and increased insecurity, among other challenges.
Speaking to this website at UEDCL’s branch office in Kabale Municipality, the station manager, Lovinsa Nshemereirwe, identified tree cutting as the leading cause of frequent power outages in the region.
She named Greater Rubaya Sub-county in Ndorwa West, Katuna Town Council, Mwisi-Kitumba, Butobere and Rushaki wards, Kihumuro in Kabale Municipality, and villages along the Bunyonyi Road as some of the areas where falling trees have frequently damaged electricity conductors.
CUE IN NSHEMEREIRWE…ON TREE CUTTING…ENG//
Nshemereirwe attributed the problem to the large number of trees planted near electricity lines. She explained that the region’s hilly terrain often brings trees into close proximity with the conductors, increasing the risk of damage when they are cut.
She appealed to people planning to cut trees near electricity lines to notify UEDCL in advance so that the company can provide guidance and take the necessary safety precautions.
“We are not going to stop people from harvesting their trees. All we need is to be informed so that we can handle it together, even if it involves shutting down the power during that period,” she said.
CUE IN NSHEMEREIRWE…ON PROCEDURE…ENG//
Nshemereirwe said that, in many cases, those responsible for cutting trees flee after the trees fall on electricity infrastructure, leaving the utility company to deal with the resulting damage.
She warned that, besides disrupting power supply and causing financial losses to both UEDCL and its customers, damaged conductors could pose a serious safety risk. Members of the public who come into contact with fallen but live electricity wires could suffer electric shocks or be electrocuted.
She added that those found responsible could face penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to UGX 1 billion.
“The Electricity Act clearly explains how vandalism of electricity materials should be penalized. We have engaged the police and the Office of the RDC, and they are all on board to help us arrest and prosecute the suspects,” she said.
CUE IN NSHEMEREIRWE …ON PENALTIES…ENG//
Despite the challenges caused by tree cutting, Nshemereirwe said UEDCL’s assessment indicated that electricity supply in Kabale District had become more stable since the company took over electricity distribution operations from UMEME in March 2025.
“At some point, before we came here, a customer stated that electricity in Kabale went off 100 times a day. That statement was widely shared on social media, highlighting the extent of the problem. But I don’t think it applies to the period we have served the region,” she said.
She also revealed that UEDCL had received a new 5 MVA transformer to improve voltage levels at the Kabale substation. The upgrade is intended to support industrial plants and large commercial facilities while enhancing power stability.
Official figures indicate that, as of October 2026, UEDCL was serving up to 19,000 customers connected to the national electricity grid across the Greater Kabale region. A total of 2,537 customers had been connected since the transition from UMEME to UEDCL in March 2025.
Nshemereirwe said the company had cleared the backlog of connection applications received in 2025 and connected 950 customers in 2026 alone. She added that UEDCL planned to connect another 400 customers before Christmas.
“No customer from 2025 is pending, and we are committed to clearing all pending new connections (400) before Christmas,” she said.
