President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern directive to Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to spearhead a crackdown on the rampant vandalism of electricity infrastructure in central Uganda. The president, visibly frustrated by the wave of destruction that has plunged entire districts into darkness, hinted at a zero-tolerance approach, even endorsing lethal force against suspects.
The directive, announced during Museveni’s address at State Lodge Luwero while on his Parish Development Model (PDM) tour, follows a significant increase in coordinated vandalism incidents across Nakasongola, Luwero, and Nakaseke districts. These acts have caused widespread blackouts, disrupted business, and left countless households without power.
Escalating Crisis
In his remarks to journalists, Museveni condemned the sabotage as deliberate economic warfare. “These are not just thieves; they are enemies of progress,” the president stated. He argued that Uganda’s development was being sabotaged by a network of criminals targeting power lines and infrastructure. He proposed a shoot-to-kill approach to deter further incidents. “Once we shoot some of them, they will lose their appetite,” he remarked sharply.
Grave Impact on Communities
Vandals have been using saws to cut down electric poles and stealing hundreds of meters of wiring, leaving communities in blackout for extended periods. Recent attacks in Wabigalo, Kakooge, and Katuugo towns in Nakasongola alone caused severe power outages. In a particularly devastating case in December 2024, vandals destroyed high-voltage poles in Lubenge swamp and made off with wires worth Shs 20 million.
Suspects and Security Response
Authorities say many of the culprits appear to come from urban areas such as Kampala and Wakiso. In November 2024, three individuals from Matugga, Wakiso were apprehended while attempting to cut wires in Kitasure village, Luwero. Earlier in June, five others were arrested in Nakaseke in similar circumstances.
This is not an isolated trend. In 2021, UMEME—then Uganda’s primary power distributor—reported losses exceeding Shs 26 billion due to vandalism involving copper wires, transformers, and poles.
To counter the crisis, Museveni instructed Gen Muhoozi to set up an inter-agency task force involving police, military intelligence, and local leaders. The force is expected to launch a robust operation that includes intensified patrols, strategic CCTV installation, and swift response protocols.
Calls for Tougher Penalties
Security officials are now pushing for suspects to be prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, arguing that the scale and impact of the vandalism constitute economic terrorism. This would allow courts to impose longer prison sentences and stiffer penalties.
Museveni emphasized that Uganda cannot afford to let infrastructure criminals derail national progress. “These acts are not mere theft—they are an attack on the transformation journey of our nation,” he said.
