Umeme the power distributor has intensified joint operations in Kampala Metropolitan of hunting down people involved in illegal power connections

Engineer John Nuwamanya, the metering service manager Kampala East and North says a team of Umeme officials together with the police, the army, and Local Defense Unit- LDU personnel on Tuesday stormed the Kampala city suburbs of Kalerwe and Mulago.

Nuwamanya, says they engaged in a door to door house inspection and as always found underground networks, poorly joint meters and bypassed meters with very low bills among others.

However, residents were unpleased with this kind of operation which resulted in running battles with security operatives,stone-pelting and even blocking off the road towards Kyebando roundabout with stone boulders and logs.

This prompted police to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd as the LDU chased them away using sticks and guns.

52 people were arrested for illegal connections are likely to settle rather than prosecute the offenders.

Nuwamanya says that monthly on the Wandegeya sub-station, Umeme loses Shillings 8 billion to illegal connections.

The offenders can be billed on the estimated amount of power they have been consuming illegally and later be encouraged to apply for connection through legit channels.

According to Nuwamanya, since the operations started in September, over 250 people have legalized their connections with UMEME.

He says they are still engaging people and leaders to legalize illegal connections in Bwaise, Nabweru, Kiganda, kiyaye in Nakulabye and Kawempe.