The Police said Tuesday they had detained three people over suspected government electricity cable vandalism. 

The suspects, who include two builders, were arrested after wire cables were cut from 14 electric poles in Katasule village, Kireku parish, Kikyusa sub-county, Luwero District, the Police said. 

Sam Twineamaziima, the Savannah Police spokesperson, in a statement, said preliminary information indicates that the crime was committed on November 28, 2023, at around 3:30 pm. 

He said following a tip-off from a resident (names withheld), they joined the residents to hunt for the said thugs and managed to arrest three people over the vandalism.  

Twineamaziima said electronic wires were also recovered relevant statements were recorded and a motor vehicle Reg. no UAN 853R Noah grey in colour was impounded and parked at Luwero Central Police Station yard. 

He said the suspects were still in custody at Luwero Central Police Station pending production in court. 

Twineamaziima identified the suspects as Miro Joseph, 23, a resident of Matugga, Wakiso District Kakulu George, 32, of Namasuba zone, Makindye Division, Kampala, and Tashobya Rodgers, 35, a businessman who is a resident of Nyanama zone, Lubaga Division in Kampala. 

Act of sabotage 

Eng. Irene Batebe, the permanent secretary in the energy ministry, told journalists late last year that they had contacted the National Security Council to help it find solutions to a growing number of vandalism on the country’s high-voltage electricity lines. 

The PS said their analysis showed that the government suffers a loss of at least sh200b per year. This, she said, is affecting the government's plans of further bringing down electricity tariffs. 

“We are working with the National Security Council to help because we feel it is no longer a petty crime but an act of sabotage,” she said.  

As of December 2021, installed electricity capacity in Uganda was 1,346 megawatts (MW) with demand at 800 MW, leaving a surplus of 546 MW according to Uganda Electricity Regulation Authority estimates. 

Despite the high surplus volume of power the country has, Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa. In urban areas, for example, 57.2% of Ugandans have access to electricity while only 10% in rural areas have access. 

This is primarily due to an overreliance on biomass sources in the energy mix, constrained electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, limited access to off-grid solutions, limited productive use of energy, and uncoordinated intra- and inter-sectoral planning according to the energy ministry.