The police have issued a stern warning to the public, urging them not to participate in the planned peaceful demonstration scheduled for this Friday, termed “March to UMEME offices Kabale.” The residents of Kabale district are planning to march to express their dissatisfaction with the frequent power outages affecting the region.
The announcement has heightened tension among UMEME officials and the local security forces. Speaking at the UMEME stakeholder’s engagement meeting held yesterday at Cephas Inn Hotel in Makanga, Kabale Municipality, the Deputy Kigezi Regional Police Commander, SSP James Kawalya, warned that while peaceful demonstrations are within the law, any actions that disrupt other activities will be met with a strong response.
“Demonstrations often harbor bad elements, and participants must be aware of the potential consequences,” SSP Kawalya stated. “We have sufficient teargas to disperse any unlawful gatherings, so it would be wiser to engage in constructive dialogue instead.”
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Echoing the police’s sentiment, Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Kabale District Resident Commissioner, urged residents to call off the demonstration, assuring them that the government is committed to resolving the power outage issues through engagement with UMEME and the Ministry of Energy.
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UMEME representatives assured the stakeholders that the persistent power outage problem would be addressed with the completion of the Kabale substation construction in Karukara, Hamurwa Town Council, Rubanda District.
As the planned demonstration looms, residents are faced with a choice between taking to the streets to voice their frustrations or trusting the government’s commitment to solving the ongoing power crisis through dialogue and infrastructure development.
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