Six killed in illegal electricity connections

By Lillia Babirye

Six people have been electrocuted in the past six months in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb due to illegal power connections, a Umeme official says.

The Kampala South regional manager for Umeme, Agnes Nalwanga says the current rise in the death rates is due to the increase of practice.

“The practice of illegal connections in this area is alarming. Wires are left exposed which leads to the death of especially children and mothers,” she explains.

Mid this week, Justine Nasande, a mother of three was the latest victim of electrocution in Namuwongo.

In Namuwongo, between 20 to 30 families tap power illegally from one registered meter. And it has turned into a business of sorts for the owners of the legal power metre.

The owners of the legal meters charge the illegal consumers a fee depending on their consumption.

Early this year Umeme disconnected power of over 13,000 customers in this area after discovering that over 70% of the power connections are illegal.

The area was found with illegal power connections, poor internal wiring and illegal underground network.

Nalwanga says Umeme, together with the local leaders, have embarked on a community sensitization programme on the dangers of power theft due to poor wiring.

The 12 zones of Kabalagala have an estimated population of over 13,000 people during the day, which rises to 20,000 in the evenings because of the entertainment clubs and bars in the area and these are all in danger of electrocution due to the poor wiring and illegal underground network.

Umeme currently loses over shs2 billion monthly to illegal power connections.

The illegal power connections not only affect Uganda’s economy but also endanger the lives of many unsuspecting citizens.