By Dickens Twinomujuni
The interminable power cuts in Kisoro district are a result of faulty lines, Umeme has said.
Kisoro has for the last two weeks experienced power outage, with the problem sometimes lasting long hours, or even a day.
Some days, power cuts have persistently happened, with power users registering losses.
Mugisha Wilber, a power user in Kisoro Municipality blames Umeme, the power vendor for failing to communicate to the clients in lieu of the problem.
“How can power disappear for hours and Umeme is simply quiet? At least if they put announcements so that we are aware that on a certain day, there is no power.” He said.
Frank Nabuyondo, a welder, also lashed out at Umeme for causing huge losses to them.
“The other day power was off the whole day. Then even when it comes, it disappears every after 20 minutes. What hurts is that there is no explanation for it all.” Said Nabuyondo.
The power cuts have left traders, mechanics, salon operators and sellers of cold drinks cursing as Umeme calls for patience.
As power users decry both losses and burning of electronic appliances, Umeme blames the problem on old power networks and connections.
Geoffrey Muhinda, the Umeme manager, Kisoro Branch, told Voice of Muhabura that faults can occur on either side of the border, both in Rwanda or Uganda.
Kisoro runs on power imported from Rwanda. Recently, the Northern parts of Kisoro District which were running on the line from Kabale district were also connected to the main line from Rwanda.
According to Muhinda, ‘there are always faults and when they are on the network, at times they come from that side of Rwanda. So, there is that challenge and we are working on it.”
He adds that the faults include broken lines, fallen poles or other effects of bad weather.
Mr Muhinda highlighted that Umeme, does not own the powerlines, Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
He also ruled out the addition of the northern part of Kisoro to the main line as the main cause, saying prior extensive studies had been done.
Our efforts to speak to officials from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company were futile by publication time as our phone calls went unanswered
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