Coffee traders, residents row over power line

By Frederick Kiwanuka                  

 A row is brewing between residents and coffee traders in Luweero town over a 500 KVA power line.

The residents say the coffee traders who operate over 15 coffee hullers in the area are overloading the power line, leading to the frequent blowing of the transformer.

The traders on the other hand say the residents are not supposed to share the power line with them, claiming it is only meant to serve the hulling machines.

The  long  standing row  last week escalated into a verbal  exchange  after a recently installed  500 KVA transformer blew into flames ,bringing  all  the coffee  hulling  business to a stand still.

It was the third time in less than a month that the power line was blowing into flames as a result of being over loaded.

The traders, through their representatives, said they were experiencing loss of business as a result of the frequent transformer break downs.      

They Complained they are the ones who  contribute  towards the repairs and  replacement  of burnt out  cables each time there is a break down, yet they share the line with the residents.

They cited last week when the coffee traders pooled shs2m to replace a burnt out cable.