news 17 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Serere Electrician Jailed 4 Years for Vandalizing Power Infrastructure
A 30-year-old electrician in Serere district has been sentenced to four years in prison for damaging UEDCL electricity installations and disrupting power supply. The court emphasized the need for a deterrent amid rising vandalism cases causing outages and financial losses. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/serere-man-convicted-4-years-for-vandalising-electricity-power-installations-5394798
Denis Obany, a 30-year-old electrician from Serere district, received a four-year prison sentence on Tuesday for vandalizing electricity infrastructure owned by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
Serere Grade One Magistrate Edmond Okiror Okwii convicted Obany of willfully diverting power and damaging poles, wires, and meter boxes at Ocaapa Trading Centre between March and April 2025. The acts occurred in broad daylight, leading to significant financial losses for the company due to repair and replacement costs.
The magistrate highlighted the prevalence of such offenses, noting they endanger lives and property while causing widespread power disruptions. “The court needs to send a strong message,” Okwii stated, deeming four years appropriate as a deterrent. Obany will serve his term at Serere Prisons.
Obany, arrested in April 2025 after a tip-off, pleaded for leniency citing his family responsibilities and health issues including hernia and kidney problems.
UEDCL’s public relations officer, Stephen Ilungole, praised the ruling, attributing most customer outages to power theft and vandalism. He noted these illegal acts hinder government efforts to expand electricity networks, forcing resources toward repairs instead.
Source: Daily Monitor