Mbarara Police deploy over power black out

By Fred Turyakira

Anti-riot Police Wednesday deployed in Mbarara to foil a planned demonstration by Rugazi residents in Kakoba Division over power blackout.

The demonstration was supposed to kick off at Rugazi Market in Kakoba Division, Mbarara and stroll to UMEME offices in town but the District Police Commander, Dickens Bindeeba, deployed heavily before they could move to the streets.

Bindeeba said UMEME officials should look for the modalities to reconnect power.

 “We have a mandate to protect life and property, but we should cooperate with service providers to see how they can meet the affected people and communicate to them than coming out when people want to demonstrate,” he advised.

The residents were complaining of power blackout following a transformer breakdown last week.

They accused Umeme for turning a deaf ear even when hey lodged a complaint.

Hannington Karooro, the area councilor added that power blackout affected the running of business and created insecurity in the area.

“We have businesses that depend on power like milk vendors, hotels, saloons, bars among others and people have been assaulted and women raped on their way back home,” Ronald Mwesigye, a resident claimed.

Kato Kiharara, the Area LC1 chairperson, said Umeme officials took the faulty transformer and did not communicate on when to re fix another one.

However, Enock Mwebesa, the Umeme Engineer in charge of operations and maintenance, assured the clients of reconnection.