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THE UGANDA Police Force has set up a National Task Force to curb the theft of electricity. The Special Task Force has been constituted together with Umeme, and will "oversee, monitor and review progress of the campaign to reduce energy losses through theft" officials said yesterday. "I would like to emphasize that the Police is more than ready to work with Umeme in the fight against electricity crime. We need to educate our communities through Community Policing first to ensure they are aware of the consequences of their actions," Inspector General of Police Maj. General Kale Kayihura said, at the Police Headquarters this week. The IGP said the approach of working jointly with institutions such as Umeme had worked successfully before, in the case of environmental policing efforts with the National Forestry Authority and National Environmental Management Authority. The Special Task Force on electricity crime was constituted during a meeting attended by Maj. Gen. Kayihura, Police Public Relations Officer Judith Nabakooba, Umeme Managing Director Charles Chapman, General Manager Sam Zzimbe and Corporate Affairs Manager Charlotte Kemigyisha. The Special Task Force will include Police Commissioner in charge of Community Policing, Asan Kasingye. The Special Task Force will formulate a modus operandi for smooth joint operations in fighting electricity crime, and join engagement with communities countrywide on electricity theft and vandalism of electricity supply installations. Among changes to be implemented will be the introduction of Community Policing desks at each police post countrywide dedicated to joint electricity crime efforts. Umeme Managing Director Charles Chapman said that in spite of a drop in energy losses since Umeme began managing electricity supply nationwide, the current loss rate was still higher than the global acceptable rate. "We are operating at 30% energy losses today, which is a significant drop of 8% from when Umeme first came into the sector. But the global acceptable energy loss rate is about 14%, meaning we still have some way to go, and we must work together to achieve this," Chapman said. Every year, Uganda as a nation loses billions of shillings directly through the theft of electricity and vandalism of Umeme property, which also impacts on the electricity distribution company's efforts to serve the national energy needs at an optimal cost. Ends. For More Information Contact: Charlotte Kemigyisha Corporate Communications Manager charlotte.kemigyisha@umeme.co.ug +256772222200 |
