Gov't on spot over power outages in North, West Nile

Nov 06, 2019

Earlier, Akena and Third Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali had told the House how most parts in Northern Uganda and West Nile were in a blackout most of the weekend.

Lawmakers representing constituencies in West Nile and Northern Uganda on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Government over the intermittent power outages which they claim is grossly affecting business.

The issue which was brought on the floor of the House by Lyandro Komakech (Gulu Municipality) quickly spawned a heated debate with lawmakers from the two regions complaining about what they described as marginalisation.

"We cannot be talking about Gulu being elevated to city status when it's almost permanently in a blackout," Komakech said.

Later, MPs Bernard Atiku, Odonga Otto, Jimmy Akena and Leader of Opposition, Betty Aol Ochan told the House that all businesses that require electricity to operate will soon ground to a halt if the issue of power outages is not solved.

Atiku reminded the House the loan it passed more than three years ago meant to facilitate the connection of Northern Uganda and West Nile on the national grid.

Earlier, Akena and Third Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali had told the House how most parts in Northern Uganda and West Nile were in a blackout most of the weekend.

This, Akena said, affected water supply in towns like Lira and Gulu.

"Failure to give power to Northern Uganda and West Nile is a national scandal because this issue has been on the floor of this House for a long time," Kadaga said.

One of the pillars of Uganda's development blueprint, Vision 2040, is the generation of enough power to make it cheaper for manufacturing.

Although power generation in Uganda has shot up with the building of new hydropower dams like Isimba and Bujagali, some places in Uganda are yet to be connected on the national grid.

Besides, electricity remains out of reach for many Ugandans. 

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