UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | A 25-year-old man in Butangala C Village in Buwenge Sub-County, Jinja District, was found dead in his garden on Monday, after being electrocuted.
The victim, Ashraf Mudabanda, was discovered by his brother, Musa Kibedi, who had gone to check on him.
According to Kibedi, his brother was killed by loose electricity wires that were connected to neighbouring electric poles through his garden.
Faizal Baka, the GISO of the Buwenge Sub-County, revealed that several underground illegal power connections in the area put residents’ lives at risk.
To curb electricity vandalism and illegal power connections, village vigilante teams have been instituted.
However, it is challenging to detect underground connections, and there have been three incidents of electrocution in the area over the past year.
Baka says that they are working with the police, local leaders, and UMEME to organise sensitisation drives that will discourage similar accidents in their area.
James Mubi, the Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson, says that illegal power connections had reduced due to intensified operations in early 2022.
However, some elements in the communities are opting for underground naked wires, which pose a greater threat to life, especially during the rainy season.
Mubi urged residents to seek advice from UMEME before connecting power.
Not far off, a similar incident happened just in mid-March when two people were electrocuted while adjusting a tent at a function in Buwenge Rural, still in Jinja District.
The incident took place on the afternoon of February 2, 2023, at Kiiko Primary School in Busede Sub-county, organised by Farm Uganda Stew, a Community-Based Organisation supporting farmers.
Police identified the deceased as Mr Mustafa Bisike, 32, the Buwenge Rural Speaker, and Mr Peter Weraga, 51, a Village Health Team (VHT) official.
“They were adjusting metallic tent poles and in the process, one of them got in touch with a naked electricity wire that electrocuted them, while two others were injured and received treatment,” said Mr James Mubi, the spokesperson for the Kiira Region Police.
Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022, currently before the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, aims to curb deadly illegal electricity connections through harsh penalties.
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