The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) on 29th June 2018 held its second Electricity Consumer Parliament, which catered for stakeholders in the Tooro Region, at the Gardens Restaurant in Fort Portal Municipality, Kabalore District. 

The Chief Petitioner, Ms. Grace Mbabazi Mary, on behalf of the electricity consumers raised issues including the high Power Tariffs, delayed delivery of electricity bills, vandalism of electrical installations, power outage, and quality of electricity poles, which she noted as bottlenecks to improving service delivery.

The Western Regional Manager for Umeme Limited, Mr. Isaac Katewanga, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Chief Petitioner and pledged that the distribution utility would improve service delivery to electricity consumers.  

Mr. Edward Iruura who represented the ERA Chief Executive Officer noted that the Government of Uganda was reviewing the Electricity Act, 1999, to include tougher penalties to address the issue of power theft and vandalizing of electrical installations. He added that the Authority would strengthen compliance monitoring of performance of licensees and introduce penalties for poor performances in order to ensure quality supply of electricity.

The Resident District Commissioner of Kabalore District, Mr. Asiimwe Stephen, commended ERA for organizing the Parliament, noting that such an engagement ought to be done more often, for the benefit of electricity consumers.

Ambassador Joan Rwabyomere, on behalf of the Board of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, while adjourning the Electricity Consumer Parliament thanked the stakeholders who attended the Parliament for their active participation and urged Umeme Limited to expeditiously address the concerns raised by the consumers.  

The Parliament was attended by among others, the District Leaders from Kabalore, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Kyegegwa, and Kamwenge Districts, Religious Leaders, and the Business Community.   

The Consumer Parliament marked the end of the Authority’s consumer awareness drives for the financial year 2017/18, which covered the Districts of Tororo, Iganga, Jinja, Mukono, Mubende, Kyegegwa and Kabalore.