On the 24^th of February 2023, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) held a sensitization and training of Judicial Officers and State Attorneys on the newly Amended Electricity Act. The primary aim of the sensitization and training was to highlight to the officers the clauses in the Act that are important concerning the prosecution of cases relating to vandalism of Electricity infrastructure. The sensitization was held at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya.

Officiating at the opening of the sensitisation and training, the ERA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako noted that ERA had found it essential to sensitize the officers as they play an important role in prosecuting vandalism cases, hence they needed to know what the new Act highlights for them to prosecute the cases from an informed point of view.

Eng. Waako noted that the new clauses in the Act empower the officers to give strict penalties to the vandalism culprits upon conviction of up to UGX. 1,000,000,000 or imprisonment of up to Twelve (12) years or both.

She further highlighted to the officers that vandalism of the Electricity infrastructure remained the most significant challenge to the Electricity Supply Industry and that it was economic sabotage of the entire country, as a lot of money is spent on restoration, repairs and maintenance of the infrastructure.

In her remarks, Her Worship Mary Kisaakye from the Judicial Training Institute commended ERA for the training, saying it was timely. She pledged to work with ERA to ensure that cases of vandalism are prosecuted with the importance and urgency they deserve.

Her Worship added that with the new clauses in the Act, the Electricity sub-Sector should expect a better Electricity supply, adding that Judicial Officers have been giving sentences based on their discretion, which the amended Act has harmonised.

The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. George William Byansi, commended ERA and welcomed the new clauses in the Act, noting that these would make the work of the DPP on the prosecution of vandalism cases more effective. He added that often, the prosecution has been investigating cases and successfully prosecuting them in court only to be let down by lighter sentences given to criminals.

He urged officers to take a keen interest in the new clauses and consider them as they execute their duties concerning prosecuting cases of vandalism. 

The sensitisation was attended by Judicial Officers and State Attorneys from across the country. The sensitisation is one of the several engagements by ERA to sensitize relevant stakeholders, including the general public, on the amended Electricity Act, 2022.

The Act was assented to by the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in May 2022.