Uganda’s major power distributor Umeme Limited is divising, means to reduce power theft in the Eastern region, where the vice has cost several people’s lives.
According to reports from the Umeme Mbale branch, the region contributed 10% of the 19% losses that the company registered at end of 2016.
Paul Sserwava Sempira District Manager says Pallisa has 3,050 customers now out of a population of 400,000 in over 80,000 households who have been travelling over 65km to Mbale to get Umeme services
“By opening this service centre, we hope to be able to have a closer relationship with Pallisa people and also reduced the issue of power theft that is as much as 42000 units annually (480million shs revenue ) so we hope to have a significant reduction in this behavior” Ssempira said.
He further encouraged Pallisa people to make full use of new umeme office as it is providing all the services they were travelling to Mbale for.
Pallisa LC 5 Chairman Michael Okurut said he had been calling and burdening Umeme Managing Director, Selestino Babungi to bring their services closer to his people.
We're receiving this centre with open hands and promise maximum corporation to the new Pallisa Manager. We are going to open up small scale/cottage industries that need an efficient supply of electricity” the Chairman said.
Pallisa RDC Mrs Collins Obed said they had been dancing to the tune of candles, “of course we didn't have solar.”
“We have been experiencing blackouts and it was too expensive travelling to Mbale but thank God today, Umeme has brought light to Pallisa and neighbouring districts. Our NRM govt is about transformation and I guarantee you that with Umeme here now, we're being transformed” Ms Obed said.
Mr. Selestino Babungi, the Umeme Managing Director, said the company’s service strategy has always been focused on process simplification, automation and investments to improve network performance.
He added that more new services centres will be opened in Kapchorwa, Sironko, Bubulo and Kumi as part of the company’s grand plan to bring services closer to the customers.
“We have 37 service centres across the country, but some of them stretch over a radius of up to 80km, which makes it difficult for our customers to access some of the services. The opening up of several satellite offices will bridge this gap,” Babungi said.