Residents of Kabale, a town nestled in the southwestern region of Uganda, find themselves in a perpetual battle against power outages that have plagued their daily lives for decades. Despite being a hub for commerce and growing industrial dreams, Kabale’s progress is hindered by the frequent disruptions in electricity supply, leaving its residents and business owners frustrated and disheartened.
Kimonge Conald Tumuhairwe, a resident, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the local utility provider, UMEME, attributing the town’s continuous blackout to its inefficiency. He lamented the significant losses incurred by businesses forced to rely on expensive generators and highlighted the adverse impact on the local economy.
Mastiko Aggrey, a studio owner, questions how Kabale could aspire to industrialization without consistent access to electricity. He underscored the irony of neighboring Rwanda enjoying uninterrupted power supply while Kabale remains engulfed in darkness.
Solomon Twinamatsiko shared his experiences of enduring entire days without power, compounded by the lack of communication from UMEME regarding the reasons behind the outages. He emphasized the financial strain and damage to electrical appliances caused by the unreliable supply.
In response to these grievances, Peter Kaujju, the Public Relations Officer of UMEME, acknowledged the challenges faced by Kabale, citing vegetation and tree-related incidents as primary causes of power disruptions. He reassured residents of ongoing efforts to improve the situation, including collaborations with Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited and engagements with local farmers to mitigate tree-related incidents.
Despite the ongoing efforts, residents remain skeptical of the utility provider’s ability to deliver reliable electricity. With hopes pinned on the construction of a new sub-station in Rubanda district, there is a glimmer of optimism that Kabale may soon emerge from the shadows and into a brighter future.
As Kabale continues its struggle for stable power supply, the resilience and determination of its residents stand as a testament to their unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.
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