Halt New Tariffs, UEB Told

By Joyce Namutebi and Cyprian Musoke MEMBERS of the committee on natural resources want Parliament to halt the new electricity tariffs, saying they are unrealistic and unaffordable by the majority of Ugandans. The committee has summoned the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Syda Bbumba, to appear tomorrow to explain the tariff hike of 256 percent and other related issues. During a meeting chaired by Hillary Onek (Lamwo), some MPs proposed that the committee investigates the high tariffs to find out who is sabotaging development in the country. Umar Lule Mawiya (Kalungu East) said his constituents had assured him that they would continue stealing the power as long as the electricity tariffs remained high. Gertrude Kulany (Woman, Kapchorwa) was supported by Loyce Bwambale (Woman, Kasese) and Eron Nantume (Buikwe West) on her proposal to halt the tariffs. Onek said with the high tariffs, rural electrification becomes unfeasible. He said only 4.09% of the Ugandan population was connected to electricity, according to UEB’s statement last December. Ken Lukyamuzi (Lubaga South) described as unsound government’s explanation that the high tariffs were due to the fact that it (government) wanted to build a new dam. Tom Bagalana (Bunya South) proposed that the committee makes a report objecting to the high tariffs. Nsubuga Nsambu (Makindye West) said the government seems to want some power providers to be self- supporting but Onek said that they should not depend on hiking tariffs to support themselves. Ends