Mbale reversing energy losses Police lead away a suspect apprehended in the operation
Mbale, which used to swap the number one position for stealing electricity with Masaka, is rolling back energy losses, Umeme Limited has announced in a statement.
The district has reduced losses from 57 per cent in 2016 to 32.8 per cent to date, which, although higher than the national mean of 17 per cent, is a movement in the right direction. The reduction is due to the anti-power theft operations in the city and sensitisation of the public about the risk of electrocution.
Generally, energy losses increased to 17.5 per cent from 16.4 per cent of 2019, on account of limited field activities due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions on movement and suspension of the free Electricity Connection Policy, which led to increased illegal connections.
Suspected power thieves cough up Shs 94 million in one week
April 1, 2021 Officials in an operation against power theft previously
Power distributor Umeme has collected Shs 94 million in just one week of an operation against suspected electricity thieves.
The money is from individuals who had been arrested – many of whom have since been released – on accusations of either having bypassed their meters, tampering with them, or were tapping powerlines illegally.
Umeme relaunched the operation on March 23 in Najjanankumbi, Nateete and Wandegeya suburbs in Kampala following an increase by two percentage points in the total energy losses between the 2019 and 2020 calendar years.
Daily Monitor
Thursday March 11 2021
Summary
Whereas government recently announced the resumption of the Electricity Connection Policy, negotiations are on with the World Bank to secure funding for the project.
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The Ministry of Energy has said government has approached the World Bank for a $400m (Shs1.4 trillion) credit facility to resume free electricity connections for the next five years.
State Minister for Energy Simon D’ujanga yesterday said government is fast-tracking efforts to have free electricity connections resumed beyond the recently announced programme.
“Government is also in advanced stages to secure $400m (Shs1.4 trillion) from the World Bank to support the electricity connections policy for a period of five years. There is a lot of backlog of connections that we must do and we are working hard to make sure that the money comes soon,” Mr D’ujanga said, noting that the loan will clear the connection backlog of about 200,000 households and som
Daily Monitor
Thursday March 04 2021
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Government will this year seek to connect 110,687 households to the electricity grid after it yesterday lifted a suspension of the free Electricity Connections Policy.
Addressing a media briefing in Kampala yesterday, Energy Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu, said the free electricity connections would resume next Monday with funding from government and development partners.
“The Rural Electrification Agency has been able to procure over 87,500 connection materials under the African Development Bank funding in addition to 2,598 connection materials under the Islamic Development Bank funding phase 1,” Kitutu said, noting additional funding would be expected from government through the budgetary releases for financial year 2020/21.
Daily Monitor
Friday February 05 2021
Summary
The minister told Parliament that the negotiations over the extension of the contract are being handled by President Museveni and the company’s top leadership. Umeme’s 20-year concession will expire in 2025.
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Government is locked in negotiations with Umeme over whether or not to renew the contract of the electricity distribution company, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, has revealed.
The minister told Parliament that the negotiations over the extension of the contract are being handled by President Museveni and the company’s top leadership. Umeme’s 20-year concession will expire in 2025.