Police hunt for suspects behind power line vandalism in Kyankwanzi

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Security agencies have launched an investigation into the vandalism of electricity infrastructure after unknown individuals raided Kisoodo village, Kisoodo parish, Bananywa subcounty in Kyankwanzi district.

Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Region Police spokesperson, said the public should remain vigilant and report individuals involved in acts of sabotage aimed at frustrating the government's rural electrification programme. The appeal follows an incident in which electric cables were cut from six power poles.

“This incident was reported at Bananywa police station on June 8, 2026, by Corporal Vincent Kalisa, the officer in charge of the station, after receiving information from Rose Assimwe, a victim of the vandalism,” Kigozi said.

He revealed that officers visited the scene and established that about 300 metres of cable had been stolen from a power line along the Kikonge-Kisoodo Road, with six poles vandalised.

“The investigation department at Kyankwanzi Police, working with intelligence units are following clues which will lead to the arrest of suspects,” he added.

Kigozi cautioned the public against engaging in acts of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure, including the theft of cables, transformer oil and the destruction of electricity poles, noting that such offences attract severe penalties under the Electricity Transmission (Amendment) Act, 2022.

Previous arrests

On April 9, 2026, Kampala Metropolitan Police said officers in Mukono District had arrested two suspects in connection with alleged electricity vandalism and impersonation.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala identified the suspects as Paul Kakooza, a 24-year-old electrician, and Bernley Tenywa, a 32-year-old electrician.

“The incident occurred in Kasai, Mukono district. It is alleged that the two men, dressed in Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) uniforms, gained access to Emerald Primary School under the pretext of taking meter readings. They reportedly climbed an electric pole and removed electric cables supplying power to the school, despite not having any official work identification documents,” Kawala said.

She revealed that the suspects were allegedly riding a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, registration number UFR 408P, and had painted the number plate blue to resemble those used by UEDCL.

“They are currently in police custody pending prosecution,” Kawala added.

Mukono and Buikwe districts have recently emerged as hotspots for vandalism of electricity infrastructure.

Suspect electrocuted

On March 16, 2026, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) warned the public against vandalising or attempting to access electricity transmission infrastructure, noting that high-voltage installations carry dangerous currents that can result in serious injury or death.

The warning followed the electrocution of an unidentified suspect who climbed a transmission tower on the Owen Falls-Lugazi transmission line in Lugazi, Buikwe District.

“UETCL informs the public that a suspected vandal was electrocuted while attempting to climb a transmission tower on the Owen Falls–Lugazi Transmission Line in Lugazi. The individual is currently suspended on the tower as arrangements are being made for a technical team to safely retrieve the body. The matter has been handed over to the Police for further investigation,” UETCL said in a statement.

UETCL urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected vandals to the nearest police station, noting that vandalism not only disrupts power supply but also endangers human life.

Previous vandalism incidents

In November 2025, a man was found dead at a high-voltage transmission tower vandalism scene in Nakapinyi Village, Kasenge Parish, Nama Sub-county in Mukono District.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the incident likely occurred on the nights of November 18 and 19, 2025, when a group of unknown individuals attempted to vandalise a high-voltage power transmission tower connected to the Namawojolo power substation.

“During the act, one of the vandals became trapped within the angle bars of the tower and died instantly. His body, dressed in a blue overall, was found hanging on the structure. The vandalism also caused damage to another tower located about half a kilometre away,” he said.

He added that a case had been registered at Mukono Police Division.

“A joint team of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited officers and Police visited and examined the scene. Statements have been obtained from residents, photographs captured and task teams are actively pursuing leads to identify and arrest the other suspects involved,” Owoyesigyire said.

Preliminary findings indicated that the deceased was part of a group attempting to cut the high-voltage tower structure and was fatally trapped during the attempted collapse.

“Efforts are underway to safely retrieve the body for post-mortem and proper profiling. Police are also working to establish the motive, identify all culprits, and ensure their prosecution. Further updates will be provided as inquiries progress,” Owoyesigyire stated.

Power interruption

Following the November incident, UETCL announced that several towers on the 132kV Owen Falls-Mukono North and Mukono North-Namanve South transmission lines had collapsed due to vandalism, interrupting electricity supply to the Mukono North substation.

UETCL again urged the public to report suspected vandals, stressing that vandalism not only disrupts power supply but also poses a serious threat to human life.

Suspects arrested over the vandalism of utility infrastructure are now charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002, as the Government considers such acts to be economic sabotage.

Minister warns

Reacting to the Mukono vandalism incident, former energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa described the destruction of power infrastructure as a criminal act and a form of economic sabotage.

“Ugandans must understand [that] vandalising power infrastructure is not just theft, it is an attack on national stability, public safety and our economic progress. We will not tolerate it. I urge the public to stay alert and immediately report any suspicious individuals tampering with electricity infrastructure,” the minister said.

Five suspects have since been charged and remanded over the Mukono vandalism incident.