Telecoms losing millions in vandalism

By Billy Rwothungeyo

THE Government should crack the whip on vandalism of telecommunication equipment to reduce the cost of doing business for telecom firms, a top telecom player has said.

“Rampant and mindless vandalism is destroying service delivery,” David Holliday, the managing director of Uganda Telecom, said last week.

Telecoms have in the recent past cited lapses in infrastructure, some caused by vandals, for the ever increasing cost of mobile telecommunication.

“In Kenya, if you are found vandalising telecom equipment, you go to jail. But in Uganda, it is a few thousand shillings as fine and nothing happens after,” he said.

Earlier this year, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) boss Godfrey Mutabazi partly attributed the poor quality of telecom services to vandalism.