By Obbo Yusuf
Residents of Iganga Municipality have appealed to the government and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to intervene over what they describe as persistent power outages affecting homes, businesses and public facilities.
Residents, particularly from Nkono and Northern divisions, say electricity now goes off and on several times a day, with some days reportedly spent without power altogether.
They claim the frequent interruptions have become a major challenge, with some residents saying the situation is worse than it was previously.
The residents are calling for government intervention, saying the unreliable power supply is causing financial losses and damaging electrical appliances.
Igulu Arafat, a businessman operating in Iganga’s central business area, has appealed to UEDCL to respond to the concerns of residents and businesses affected by the outages.
Arafat said traders are suffering losses after their electrical appliances, including refrigerators, televisions and heavy machinery, are reportedly damaged by repeated power interruptions.
Residents also say the situation is particularly worrying at night.
Magola Sophie, a resident of Northern Division, said electricity can go off and return several times in a single night, creating insecurity and putting electrical appliances at risk.
“It’s better to switch off or on power for once, than putting it off and on in the nights when most people are asleep. This puts life at risk and property. We sometimes think one is playing with house main switches until we realise it’s a general area problem,” Sophie said.
Residents have urged UEDCL to review its operations, particularly during nighttime, saying repeated switching off and on of electricity is dangerous to homes, businesses and electrical equipment.
Abdul Hakim, another resident, questioned the impact of the outages on health facilities.
“Switching off power and on every 30 minutes is dangerous to our lives, businesses and property. The same situation is happening to hospitals. What will happen to those in ICU?” Hakim asked.
The residents say power blackouts remain one of the major challenges affecting urban areas of Iganga, with businesses reportedly losing working hours and incurring costs from damaged equipment.
They have called on the government and UEDCL to urgently address the problem and ensure a more reliable electricity supply in Iganga Municipality.
Residents also want better communication from the electricity distributor whenever planned maintenance or interruptions are expected.
