By Aggrey Baba
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has named Iganga, Luwero, Mbarara, Mityana and Kayunga as the districts most affected by electricity infrastructure vandalism, warning that the vice continues to disrupt power supply and cost the country billions.
The revelations were made on Friday, April 10, 2026, during a media training workshop titled Understanding Uganda’s Electricity Supply Industry and the Role of ERA, held at the it’s headquarters in Kampala’s Industrial Area.
Ms. Shallot Kyohairwe, a prosecutor and senior legal officer at ERA, said the identified districts continue to register the highest cases of vandalism, including theft of aluminum conductors, cutting of wires, destruction of transmission towers and tampering with key installations, acts which she explained that are not isolated incidents but part of a growing pattern of organized criminal activity targeting the national grid.
Kyohairwe noted that while Jinja had previously ranked among the worst-hit areas, the situation has significantly improved following intensified crackdowns by ERA and security agencies. She revealed that several suspects have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted, with some already serving sentences in Luzira Prison, while others remain on trial.
According to ERA, vandalism has far-reaching consequences, including prolonged power outages, disruption of businesses and essential services, and heavy financial losses. In some cases, the damage to infrastructure has cost the government billions of shillings, particularly along major projects such as road networks and transmission lines. Here, Engineer Peter Kakeeto, the manager technical compliance and monitoring revealed that one tower costs over UGX 300 million, adding that each time one is cut, it goes down with others.
The Authority emphasized that vandalism is treated as a serious economic and security crime under the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2022. Offenders face stiff penalties, including fines of up to UGX 1 billion or imprisonment ranging between seven and 12 years, or both.
ERA officials said many perpetrators are driven by ignorance of the law, the lure of quick money from stolen materials, and in some cases coordinated efforts to sabotage infrastructure.
Mr Julius Wandera, ERA’s Director for Corporate and Consumer Affairs, called on the media to play a central role in raising public awareness about the dangers of vandalism, saying the vice ultimately affects entire communities through unreliable electricity supply and increased costs of service delivery.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in protecting national infrastructure, adding that the fight against vandalism requires all of us and communities must act as the first line of defense.
ERA says it is intensifying enforcement, public sensitization campaigns, and collaboration with security agencies to curb the vice and safeguard Uganda’s electricity network. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
