Uganda: Heavy penalties for vandalism of electricity infrastructure
Uganda, Kampala: The Government of Uganda has put electricity thieves on notice by proposing fines of up to $112.651 (Shs400 M) for power theft.
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Uganda, Kampala: The Government of Uganda has put electricity thieves on notice by proposing fines of up to $112.651 (Shs400 M) for power theft.
Alternatively, one convicted of the crime will serve 10 years imprisonment or both.
These are some of the proposed amendments in the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 now before Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources for analysis.
Currently, one convicted of the offence is fined $169 (Shs600,000) or imprisonment for three years or both, penalties that the Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa says are not deterrent.
Of the 17 % distribution energy losses, 8 % is through electricity theft (people tapping the grid illegally, bypassing meters or not settling their bills, among others).
The Bill also proposes a fine of up to $281,628 (Shs1 B) for vandalizing electricity infrastructure or imprisonment for 13 years or both.
Over the last two years, there has been an increase in the theft of power and vandalism of electricity installations.
Commentators have advance reasons such as a less restraining law in place, lack of enforcement, and the criminals knowing they could get away with the crime.
Umeme’s Managing Director, Selestino Babungi, says the proposal, if passed, would go a long way in checking power theft and vandalism.
Babungi says with reduction in electricity theft, it would contribute to reducing the end user tariff because there will be more units of energy over which to spread the sector’s generation, transmission, and distribution costs.
And, checking vandalism would mean resources are not diverted from expanding the grid to replacing destroyed transformers, poles and cables which tantamount to doing a job twice and sometimes thrice.
Source: Umeme
#Electricity (Amendment) Bill#electricity theft#fines#Uganda#vandalism