MUKONO. Residents Kalagi-Kakoola Town , Kyampisi sub county ,Mukono District have expressed disappointment with the services of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) which they say are wanting .
They accuse UEDCL of removing a transformer from the area and failing to replace it, leaving the area in total darkness at night .
To express the disillusionment, angry residents on Wednesday staged a violent protest blocking the main road with electricity poles and logs, paralyzing transport along the Mukono–Kayunga route. They vowed not to disperse until power was restored.This prompted police to use teargas to calm them down .
“We are tired of empty promises. Our children cannot study, and businesses are collapsing. We will not move until the transformer is returned,” one demonstrator told reporters.
The situation escalated when residents impounded a UEDCL vehicle, demanding that their transformer be reinstalled before releasing it. Some motorists en route to Kayunga were also forced to use village routes .
Police and army officers from Naggalama, led by District Police Commander Edina Nyiraniza, were called in to quell the protest. Attempts to calm the crowd failed, prompting security forces to fire tear gas.
During the clashes, a woman was critically injured after being struck by a tear gas canister and was rushed to Naggalama Hospital.
The standoff lasted over five hours until area Member of Parliament Kiwanuka Abdallah intervened, assuring residents that the transformer would be restored.
“The transformer will be brought back immediately. I ask you to remain calm and allow dialogue to continue,” the MP said.
He later accused unnamed politicians of sabotaging UEDCL’s work for political gain. “It has become a habit. Some leaders frustrate the company’s efforts so they can later claim credit when transformers are installed,” he said.
Residents also complained that the prolonged blackout had fueled crime in the area, leaving them fearful at night. They urged government authorities to investigate the delays and find a lasting solution.