By Joseph Kiggundu
WAKISO.The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has started installing bird guards along the Waligo feeder.
The move aims at improving power supply reliability in Gayaza and surrounding areas, where frequent bird-related faults have disrupted electricity service.
The Waligo feeder is a critical interconnector between the Kawanda and Waligo substations, supplying residential and commercial areas including Gayaza, Kyanja, Kungu, Masooli, Busukuma, Nangabo, Nalyamagonja, Komamboga, Kitetitika, Namere, Lusanja, Kiteezi and Kitala, as well as industrial customers such as Ugachick.
Kassim Kasana, the project lead, said the line has recorded an average of five bird-related faults each month over the past four months, largely due to a landfill established beneath the feeder in Kidokolo Village, Kawanda.
“The waste dumping site has created a rich scavenging habitat for hundreds of marabou storks. These birds utilize the distribution poles as primary resting platforms between feeding periods,” Kasana said.
“The birds frequently bridge the strict clearance gap between live conductors and grounded structures when taking off or landing, resulting in faults that disrupt power supply,” he added.
Kasana said the installation of bird guards, expected to be completed by mid-July 2026, is intended to eliminate the frequent outages while supporting wildlife conservation and protecting utility revenue.
“The medium voltage line covers used as bird guards provide an enhanced insulation barrier around conductors. This ensures that accidental contact by birds, vegetation or temporary conductor clashes, does not result into short circuits,” he said.
He said the project aligns with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) guidelines to protect biodiversity, noting that marabou storks are a protected wildlife species in Uganda.
“By installing bird guards we are ensuring that marabou storks drawn to the landfill can safely land on utility structures without completing an electrical circuit. The birds will be insulated from fatal electrocutions and the costly grid outages will be minimized,” Kasana said.
Jimmy Kiggundu, the area engineer for Namugongo, said around 25,000 customers lose electricity whenever birds come into contact with conductors along the feeder.
“About 25,000 customers lose power supply whenever a bird comes into contact with the conductors along this feeder. Once the installation of bird guards is completed this month, both domestic and industrial customers served by the Waligo Substation will enjoy more stable and reliable power supply,” Kiggundu said.