Two arrested over electricity infrastructure vandalism in Mukono

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Police have arrested two suspects linked to a series of electricity infrastructure vandalism incidents in Mukono district that have left several communities without power and caused significant losses to the government.

Addressing journalists at Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday (June 8) Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma identified the suspects as Jamil Kayondo, 21, a boda boda rider, and Ronnie Mubiru, a driver.

The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted in the early hours of June 5, 2026, targeting a criminal network accused of cutting and stealing Aerial Bundled Conductors (ABCs) and damaging electricity installations in Kawuga, Kisoga and Wantooni in Mukono district.

Kituuma said police received information about a group involved in vandalising electricity infrastructure in the affected areas before mounting an ambush along the suspects’ escape routes.

Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“Acting on intelligence, our officers conducted an operation at around 3:00 am and intercepted the suspects as they attempted to move toward Mukono town,” Kituuma said.

During the operation, police recovered rolls of stolen aerial bundled cables and a motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crimes.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the criminal network and identify additional suspects linked to the vandalism.

“These acts have caused major disruptions to electricity supply and resulted in significant losses. We are determined to dismantle the entire network behind them,” he said.

Kituuma urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity around electricity poles, transformers and other installations.

“Members of the public should immediately report suspicious movements around electricity infrastructure to police, local leaders or the electricity utility company,” he said.

He also warned scrap dealers and traders against purchasing suspected stolen electrical materials.

“If we find you dealing in stolen cables, transformers, transformer oil or related equipment, you will be held criminally liable. We shall not accept excuses that you did not know the items were stolen,” Kituuma warned.

Police have since intensified operations in the affected areas as investigations continue.

Background

In December last year, Security personnel arrested the key suspect behind the gang that vandalised the 132-kilovolt Owen Falls–Mukono North–Namanve South lines high-voltage pylons, leading to massive power shortages.

The suspect (name withheld) was involved in the theft and transportation of the stolen steel bars that formed the power lines to two different factories in Seeta within Mukono district and Buikwe district.

The arrest brought the total number of suspects apprehended in connection with the vandalism of the power line to four.

New Vision established that a joint team of security operatives also raided the two steel factories suspected to have purchased the steel bars from the suspects, as they sought to bust the racket.

The joint security team included operatives from the Defence Intelligence and Security (formerly Chieftaincy of Crime Intelligence), Special Forces Command, Uganda Police Force, Internal Security Organisation and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited security team.

New Vision has established that one of the factories searched is located in Seeta, Mukono, while the other is in Njeru, Buikwe.

Sources said security operatives also retrieved Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage along roads near the companies and within their premises as they seek to establish the movement of the steel bars that were vandalised.

Muhammad Lubogo, the Manager Public and Corporate Communications at Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), confirmed that a series of operations were ongoing.

The arrest of the prime suspects followed the death of one of the vandals, 28-year-old Ibrahim Muwengere, who was hit by a pylon on the night of November 18, 2025, as the group vandalised the power line.

Muwengere, a scrap dealer and resident of Sagazi village in Lugazi Municipality in Buikwe, died at the scene after the tower he was unscrewing collapsed on him.

Shoot to kill order, penalties

Several power vandalism suspects have in the past been charged with terrorism. In June 2024, President Yoweri Museveni, while addressing the issue of vandalism during his Parish Development Model tour in Luweero, directed the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to form an inter-agency security committee to combat the vandalism. Museveni suggested a “shoot-to-kill” policy to deter future attacks, stating; “Once we shoot some of them, they will lose the appetite.”

The Government has enacted tough laws to combat vandalism of electricity infrastructure, particularly with the amendment of the Electricity Act in 2022. Those involved in such crimes face severe penalties under the law.

The amended Electricity Act stipulates a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison or a fine of sh1b for first-time offenders convicted of vandalising electricity infrastructure. Repeat offenders face even harsher penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment or a fine of sh2b.

In some cases, vandalism of critical national infrastructure can also be prosecuted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, especially when the destruction is deemed intentional and aimed at destabilising essential services.

Under the Electricity Act Amendment of 2022, suspects face up to 12 years in prison or a sh1b fine for a first offence. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for 15 years or fined sh2b. Those found guilty under the Prevention of Terrorism Act could face even stiffer penalties.

In October 2024, the Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary, Eng. Irene Bateebe while appearing before the Parliaments Committee on Environment and Natural Resources said they were considering using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to deter vandals from stealing electricity infrastructure.

Past cases

In December 2024, Police in Nakasongola district launched a public appeal for information about unknown people who launched an attack on Government utility infrastructure, plunging the area into darkness. The attack occurred in Lubenge Swamp, Police said.

Sam Twiineamazima, the Savannah region Police spokesperson, said some of the infrastructure included high-voltage power lines.

In November 2024, Police arrested five people believed to be part of a notorious ring of powerline vandals in Mukono district. The group is known to attack electricity infrastructure, including poles and transformers disrupting power supply to homes and businesses.

Police spokesperson (Kituuma) said the suspects were nabbed from Katenga village, after being cornered by security forces and caught red-handed with two ABC conductor electric wires, Umeme uniforms and other related equipment.

In July 2024, 17 suspects, were charged with terrorism in Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court for vandalising electricity infrastructure across Uganda. The state alleged the attacks, spanning 2022 to May 2025, targeted power lines in Kampala, Luweero, Nakasongola, Mityana, Kiboga, and Mubende, causing widespread blackouts.