Lwengo Roars Back to Life as Power Returns After Three-Month Darkness

Lwengo Town Council’s Central Zone is buzzing with renewed activity following the restoration of electricity, ending a frustrating three-month period of darkness. The prolonged power outage, triggered by the breakdown of a critical transformer, had brought many aspects of daily life to a standstill.

Businesses shuttered, government offices struggled to operate, and household routines were severely disrupted. The blackout significantly impacted essential services, including the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the police, courts, the Lwengo District headquarters, and the Resident District Commissioner’s (RDC) office.

Escalating public frustration led residents to petition authorities, demanding swift action from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL). Lwengo District Chairperson Abasi Kizito issued UEDCL a one-week ultimatum, threatening to lead public protests if power was not restored.

UEDCL eventually responded by installing a new transformer, reconnecting the town to the national grid. The return of power has been met with relief, with Deputy RDC Bonny Venture Rwatangabo confirming that “normal activities had resumed.” He extended gratitude to the government for addressing the community’s concerns.

While celebrating the restoration, residents expressed some apprehension regarding the capacity of the new transformer. They noted its similar size to the one that failed and voiced concerns that it might not be sufficient for the area’s increasing power demands. They have appealed to UEDCL to consider a larger transformer to avert future lengthy blackouts. This article is based on reporting from the Daily Monitor.