Bring electricity to West Nile â€" Arumadri
Apr 19, 2009
MADI-Okolo County MP John Arumadri has criticised the Governments’ decision to borrow $52.51 (about sh112.5b) to extend electricity to the western and eastern parts of the country and neglecting the West Nile region.
By Paul Kiwuuwa
and Madinah Tebajjukira
MADI-Okolo County MP John Arumadri has criticised the Governments’ decision to borrow $52.51 (about sh112.5b) to extend electricity to the western and eastern parts of the country and neglecting the West Nile region.
Arumadri (FDC) got concerned that the Government wanted to extend electricity to areas that already had power.
“Government should extend electricity to West Nile. The region has never been connected to the power grid, at least Mbarara, Tororo and Lira districts have got power,†Arumadri said.
He was on Wednesday reacting to state minister for privatisation Rukia Chekamondo, who sought Parliament’s approval to borrow money from the African Development Bank (ADB), to construct the Mbarara-Nkenda, Tororo-Lira transmission power lines.
Arumadri said the districts of Arua, Nebbi, Maracha, Terego, Yumbe, and Moyo did not have power.
He said the defunct Uganda Electricity Board used generators to supply power in Arua district, but they are now dilapidated.
Arumadri also attacked the Government for failing to build the Nyangak dam since in 2006. He said the West Nile Rural Electrification Company did not have money
“The company was supposed to supply power in Arua, for at least 18 hours,†Arumadri said.
“West Nile region has been neglected and sidelined. We have been politically pushed to the wall, why should other regions have electricity, while West Nile is lacking it?†he asked.
He warned that if only a few areas were developed, it would create social unrest.
However, Deputy Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said the issue would be forwarded to the parliamentary natural resources committee for debate.
and Madinah Tebajjukira
MADI-Okolo County MP John Arumadri has criticised the Governments’ decision to borrow $52.51 (about sh112.5b) to extend electricity to the western and eastern parts of the country and neglecting the West Nile region.
Arumadri (FDC) got concerned that the Government wanted to extend electricity to areas that already had power.
“Government should extend electricity to West Nile. The region has never been connected to the power grid, at least Mbarara, Tororo and Lira districts have got power,†Arumadri said.
He was on Wednesday reacting to state minister for privatisation Rukia Chekamondo, who sought Parliament’s approval to borrow money from the African Development Bank (ADB), to construct the Mbarara-Nkenda, Tororo-Lira transmission power lines.
Arumadri said the districts of Arua, Nebbi, Maracha, Terego, Yumbe, and Moyo did not have power.
He said the defunct Uganda Electricity Board used generators to supply power in Arua district, but they are now dilapidated.
Arumadri also attacked the Government for failing to build the Nyangak dam since in 2006. He said the West Nile Rural Electrification Company did not have money
“The company was supposed to supply power in Arua, for at least 18 hours,†Arumadri said.
“West Nile region has been neglected and sidelined. We have been politically pushed to the wall, why should other regions have electricity, while West Nile is lacking it?†he asked.
He warned that if only a few areas were developed, it would create social unrest.
However, Deputy Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said the issue would be forwarded to the parliamentary natural resources committee for debate.