LUUKA, UGANDA: Police in Luuka District are holding 13 suspects arrested in a crackdown operation on illegal electricity connections in the eastern district.
The operation conducted in partnership with Umeme, the utility supplier of electricity happened on Saturday, May 06, 2023, in Bulanga Town Council in Luuka District, Eastern Uganda.
The Busoga North regional Police spokesperson, ASP Micheal Kasadha, confirmed the arrest and operation, saying 13 suspects were in detention and the operations still carry on in the neighbouring areas.
“Following complaints from the community pertaining to power theft, we have conducted a joint operation with Umeme against illegal power connections in Bulanga Town Council and other areas,” ASP Kasadha said, adding that the operation was prompted by increasing complaints of illegal power connections registered in the district.
“The district has the highest number of illegal connections in the region. We have launched an operation aimed at arresting and disconnecting illegal users in all places,” he said.
A Umeme staff speaking on condition of anonymity said illegal connections undermine reliable power supply as they overload the distribution network and result in unplanned outages, which also leaves people who pay genuinely to suffer load shedding.
He said the suspects currently detained at Luuka Central Police Station will be arraigned in court as required by the law.
Most people deserted their homes and businesses for fear of being arrested while some said that they fled after being tipped off by friends.
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