Wakiso villages get electricity

MINISTER|ELECTRICITY|DEVELOPMENT

WAKISO - The Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Mary Goretti Kitutu has launched a sh17b power line that will supply over 30 villages and government institutions in Kakiri Sub County in Wakiso district.

Kitutu launched the power line on Tuesday (December 22, 2020) at Kirugaruga primary School at an event with jubilant locals who witnessed the erecting of the first electric pole in the area.

Excited locals celebrated by playing loud music and beating drums after seeing a dream come true in as many years.

The electricity in the area is a fulfillment of a presidential pledge promised by President Museveni in 2016. It is expected to cover over 24 kilometers.

"It is very surprising to see such a beautiful village without power. I have seen nice houses here and you deserve electricity. By June 2021 power will be, and I will come back to switch it on," Kitutu said.

The launch of the power line comes at a time where connections fees are too high for the ordinary Ugandans after government halted the Electricity Connections Policy (ECP) over lack of enough funds to implement it. 

New power connection fees released by Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), range from Shs570,000 to Shs3.4 million. 

A no pole and single-phase connection costs Shs576,773 for a wired prepaid split meter and Shs610,918 for a wireless split meter.

A single-phase connection for residential places costs between Shs1.9 million and Shs2.3 million.

For customers who need three-phase connections will pay between Shs2 million and Shs3.4 million. 

"I know these costs are too high for ordinary Ugandans, but we couldn't put the whole electricity distribution on halt yet there are rich Ugandans who can afford these costs and are willing to pay," Kitutu said.

She revealed that the policy will be resumed between April and June 2021.

The ambitious policy that was launched in November 2018 was touted as the silver bullet to increasing electricity consumption through subsidization of last-mile connections among the population.

It sought to subsidize connections fees from an average of half-a-million shillings, a figure that officials described a barrier to about sh20,000 only.

"We are likely to resume subsidized connections in April. I call upon Ugandans to be calm and wait," Kitutu said.

With an excess power of about 500 megawatts, Kitutu says government is committed to supplying it to every part of the country.

"We are fighting to see that every village gets power. Currently we are negotiating a $400m loan to connect about one million people," Kitutu said.

Government hopes that by taking off the burden of paying to get to the grid, more people will be connected after paying only shs20,000 inspection fees.

According to Umeme, 245310 connections have so far been completed since the launch of the program in 2018.

Dennis Galabuzi Ssozi, the State Minister for Luweero Triangle advised locals to embrace the opportunities that come with power.

"Let my people prepare to add value to their produce and establish other entreprises like wielding, saloons, which will enhance their incomes," Galabuzi said.

Galabuzi who is also the Busiro North County, commended the president to fulfil his pledge.

Matayo Galiwango, the LCI Mpengwe village said power will help improve the development of the area.