Brian Luwaga
05:33

Teargas in Luweero as Police Battles Protestors

25 Apr 2016, 16:48 1308 Views Luweero, Uganda Crime Analysis

In short
Angry residents, armed with placards, mounted barricades along Kampala-Gulu highway for close to 30 minutes. The protest was centered at Kasana trading centre, where one of the transformers was reported to be faulty.

Anti-riot police used teargas to disperse rowdy residents of Luweero town council who were protesting over persistent power fluctuations and blackouts this afternoon.

The angry residents, armed with placards, mounted barricades along Kampala-Gulu highway for close to 30 minutes. The protest was centered at Kasana trading centre, where one of the transformers was reported to be faulty.

Police led by the acting Officer in Charge of Luweero Police Station Enos Achwamu fired teargas to disperse the rowdy residents whom they blamed for paralyzing transport and using the wrong forum to address their grievances.

One of the protestors Daniel Kalema says the power supply for the area has been unstable for over three weeks.
 
// Cue in: (Luganda) "Ensonga enkulu…
Cue out;…okuvaayo ku luguudo"//
 
Paul Mukungu, the newly elected LCIII Chairperson of Luweero town says the blackout has affected businesses in the area. He says the business community in Luweero does not have the capacity to meet the cost of running generators.
 
// Cue in: "One of the problem..
Cue out;…of the people""//
 
// Cue in: "Ekisokera ddala…..
Cue out;….batuwa service"//
 
Lameck Kigozi the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson said the Umeme office in Bombo has been called in to address the concerns raised by the protestors.
 
Cue in; " we are appealing…
Cue out;…disastrous"//

// Cue in: "Okusokera ddala…
Cue out;….embeera tugiterezezza"//
 
Early this year, Luweero Diocesan Bishop Eldard Nsubuga Kironde criticized Umeme for failure to ensure steady power supply in the area and described it as worst service provider in 2015.

 

Tagged with: power blackout in luweero umeme company limited

About the author

Brian Luwaga
Since Brian Luwaga joined Uganda Radio Network in 2011, he is still amazed how, "URN is a place that gives journalists a chance to enhance their skills . It gives a journalist an opportunity to adopt and master various aspects of journalism that include radio broadcast, social media, photography and television production."

A practicing journalist since 2009, first with Star FM, Luwaga has always been keen to write about the concerns of the "common person." Based for much of his career in Luweero, Luwaga takes it as a compliment if politicians complain that his reporting is too harsh.

In his journalism, Luwaga likes to merge the past with the present. He believes you cannot understand what is happening now, if you do not have a grounding in the past. Brian Luwaga is the Luweero URN bureau chief. Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Mityana, Mubende and Wakiso districts fall under his docket.

Luwaga is interested in humanitarian work and is a keen Rotarian.