Residents of Kitgum town are planning a demonstration against electricity distribution company, Umeme, for the consistent irregular power supply to their town.
The frequency of power blackouts increased in Kitgum this month. Almost every day for the past four weeks, the power has been cut off without warning. When there is electricity it is often too low to run basic equipment.
Margaret Apio, the proprietor of Roxy Discotheque, says she is forced to spend on two generators to power her disco hall. She says that with rising fuel costs, this is an expense to high for her to maintain.
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In addition to the business community, many residences are suffering because of the inadequate power supply.
Hussein Akbar, a resident of Apollo Ground, says the sharp and sudden rises in power have burned all his electrical equipment. He says he is ready to publicly demonstrate against Umeme's lack of control over power distribution and in ability to protect users.
David Mukibi, the Kitgum Town Council LC5 councilor, blames the power supply problems on corruption. He says small weak electricity poles were purchased instead of standard poles and they are unable to adequately distribute power throughout the town.
//Cue in: "The poles ..."
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Mukibi asks the Kitgum district leadership to take up the matter with Umeme in order to prevent mass action against the company.
Umeme has not provided a comment on the matter.
