UMEME, the major electricity suppliers, are faced with court action over damaged appliances following incessant black outs in Kiwanga-Lwanda village, Goma Division in Mukono Municipality, in addition to being asked to bear the responsibility for people attacked by criminals taking advantage of the subsequent darkness.
Following the power outages, many residents who derive a living out of the use of electricity appliances have been thrown out of business, while iron bar wielding criminals have taken advantage of the situation to attack residents with impunity, hit them and steal their property.
In Pearl Medical Centre, our reporter found Moses Emechu, a security guard with M/S SWAT Security Company, receiving treatment after being hit with pavers by four thugs the previous night, and taking off with his mobile phone, bank documents and cash.
The Kiwanga-Lwanda cell secretary, Godfrey Luggya and councilors, Racheal Nakamanya and Ssaka Robert Bukenya said council has run out of taxes as residents no longer pay anything after being rendered jobless.
They threatened to camp at UMEME offices along with the villagers if nothing is done immediately to address the situation.
The LC I Chairperson, Richard Lugoloobi Kasiriivu said they have given UMEME up to 30th of this month to have rectified the situation or else proceed to sue them demanding compensation for physical and material damages.
Contacted for comment, UMEME spokesperson Peter Kauju attributed the fault to collapse of one of the towers feeding Mukono, adding however that everything is being done to make necessary adjustments. Kauju expressed sympathy with the residents of the affected area adding however that they are working round the clock to rectify the situation.