Gulu City, Uganda: The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is counting losses after losing at least 47 electricity structures to bush fires in the Acholi sub-region, significantly disrupting power supply and escalating infrastructure replacement costs.
The losses, recorded since the onset of the dry season, have mainly affected Adjumani, Amuru and parts of Gulu District, where widespread bush burning has intensified.
Addressing journalists in Gulu City, UEDCL Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs, Mr Jonan Kiiza, described the fires as a major threat to electricity reliability in northern Uganda.
“Bush burning has become one of the biggest contributors to outages in this region. These fires are destroying wooden poles and destabilising our distribution network,” Kiiza said.
Much of UEDCL’s network in Acholi relies on wooden electricity poles, which are highly vulnerable to fire damage. Each destroyed structure not only disrupts supply but also exposes lines to vandalism when they are de-energized for safety.
“When we switch off lines after such incidents, vandals take advantage. We end up replacing both poles and conductors. That is a double loss for the company and for customers who depend on reliable power,” Kiiza explained.
Since taking over national electricity distribution from Umeme on April 1, 2025, UEDCL has registered over 67 vandalism cases across the country, with 17 suspects charged and eight convicted this year.
UEDCL warned that bush burning near electricity infrastructure is illegal under the Electricity Act (Amended) 2022, CAP 157, which prescribes severe penalties for destruction or vandalism of power assets.
However, the company says its immediate focus is community engagement rather than prosecution. “We are prioritizing sensitization and behavioural change. The law is there, but engagement comes first,” Kiiza said.
The utility has rolled out awareness campaigns across northern Uganda, targeting communities where bush burning is common during the dry season.
Call for Collective Responsibility
Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan urged UEDCL to involve cultural and political leaders in the campaign, saying communities respond more effectively when messages are amplified by trusted local figures.
Residents have also called for promotion of alternative cooking energy sources to reduce dependence on charcoal and indiscriminate bush clearing.
UEDCL Area Manager for Gulu, Karadyo Colline, said the regional office continues efforts to stabilize supply while processing new connections across Gulu, Omoro, Oyam and parts of Amuru.
As the dry season intensifies, UEDCL has appealed to communities in Acholi to stop bush burning near power lines to prevent further infrastructure losses and avoid prolonged blackouts. “Reliable electricity is a shared responsibility. Protecting these assets protects our economy and our future,” Kiiza said.
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