'Vandalisation hurting economy'
May 22, 2012
The rampant vandalisation of Umeme electricity transformers is a deliberate economic sabotage plot to oust the NRM government come 2016.
By Dismus Buregyeya
The rampant vandalisation of Umeme electricity transformers is a deliberate economic sabotage plot to oust the NRM government come 2016.
This was revealed by the minister of state for economic monitoring, Henry Banyenzaki, at a conference at Hotel Brovad in Masaka town on Wednesday.
Banyenzaki represented security minister Muruli Mukasa at the conference aimed at tackling vandalism and theft in the energy sector.
He said the opposition wanted to cripple the progressing economy.
Umeme general manager Sam Zimbe said 72 power transformers from districts in Buganda and the east have been vandalised since the beginning of the year causing a financial loss of sh1.2b.
“An attack on the energy sector automatically cripples service delivery. The next thing you will hear is that they have started vandalising water pipes and all this is a plot to bring down the NRM government,” Banyenzaki said.
He said through vandalism and theft of Umeme transformers, industrial development will collapse and eventually the people will get disgusted with the NRM government by the 2016 elections.
He said it all started when the opposition made an attempt to sabotage the development of the Bujagali and Karuma power dams.
Banyenzaki said the sabotage has now extended to the oil sector and that the new roads under construction are also facing similar challenges.
“Imagine how it can be frustrating to fail Tullow Oil Company which is bringing investments worth over US$500m, an amount that is almost equivalent to the annual national budget,” he said.
Banyenzaki said he has received reports of how foreign investors from Germany and the United Kingdom operating businesses in Mubende and Mityana districts are facing deliberate sabotage.
He said Government strength lies in the fast growing economy. “These sabotage missions are well coordinated and must not be taken lightly,” he said.
Banyenzaki reminded the participants that President Yoweri Museveni has always talked about the problem of legislative and economic sabotage.
He urged the resident district commissioners to convene security meetings in their respective districts to address the incidents of sabotage against government programmes.
The UPDF Armored Brigade Commander, Brig. Gavas Mugyenyi asked Umeme authorities and the security committees to team up with the Army to fight vandalism and thefts of transformers.
“These people who are sabotaging the economy through the energy sector are not deferent from the enemies who bomb innocent people, lets make it a collective responsibility to stop them,” he said.
The Masaka Chief Magistrate, Boniface Wamala said deterrent penalties can be used against economic saboteurs.
“There are penalties where the convicts can pay a fine of Shs 1m or face a jail term of five years,” he said.
He asked Umeme, the police and the office of the state attorneys to cooperate towards evidence gathering against the culprits who vandalize Umeme properties.
The Lwengo RDC, Grace Kaboyo urged Umeme to improve on their Public Relations for the communities to appreciate their services.
The Umeme Managing Director Charles Chapman said he has along term goal to reduce power loss and illegal connections.