Kampala, Uganda | THEIDEPENDENT | The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has granted Masanyalaze Community a three-month grace duration to resume electricity supply at St. Balikuddembe Market, following continual complaints from distributors over frequent blackouts and mismanagement. The come follows a vitality disaster on the market, which saw agencies—especially those reliant on electricity love wintry drink sellers and groundnut paste processors—comprise valuable disruptions.
Distributors had accused Masanyalaze Community, a vendor-based totally electricity provider that managed vitality on the market for over 15 years, of extortion, disrespect, and failure to remit vendor payments to the vulnerable distributor, Umeme. This reportedly resulted in unpaid arrears amounting to UGX 184 million and precipitated disconnection by Uganda Electrical energy Distribution Company Restricted (UEDCL).
In response, KCCA had earlier disbanded Masanyalaze Community and appointed a 10-member intervening time committee mild of department heads to administer electricity payments and make constructive that a consistent supply. Nonetheless, distributors explain the unique team did no longer elevate. Closing Friday, UEDCL disconnected the market resulting from the rising debt, prompting chaos and renewed calls for action. This led to a disaster meeting chaired by KCCA Government Director Hajati Sharifah Buzeki on Tuesday night.
Throughout the meeting, distributors pleaded with KCCA to reinstate Masanyalaze Community—with operational reforms—arguing that the intervening time committee had confirmed inefficient and mild from vendor realities. Ramadan Ssemyalo faulted the intervening time committee’s banking cost mannequin, announcing many distributors are unfamiliar with calculating devices. He additionally called for a reduction in essentially the most unique per-unit price of UGX 690 at some level of the trial duration.
Yeremia Mutesasira supported the name for reinstatement, stressing the want for KCCA to oversee Masanyalaze Community to withhold faraway from the screw ups witnessed under the intervening time committee.
Dealer Godfrey Ayinomugisha claimed the vitality complications started when Masanyalaze Community was once eliminated resulting from non-public pursuits, and appealed for its return for the sake of industry continuity.
But any other vendor, Baisha Nayiga, accused the intervening time committee of miserable meter management and refusal to let distributors gape meter readings, resulting in unsuitable billing.
In response, KCCA Government Director Hajati Sharifah Buzeki reaffirmed that under the Markets Act, distributors are to blame for paying their utility bills, while KCCA performs a supervisory role. She urged mild and cooperation.
Masanyalaze Community Chairperson Godfrey Yiga assured distributors that the electricity supply could well be restored at some level of the grace duration. He requested that distributors comprise with essentially the most unique price of UGX 690 per unit to support the team decide the UGX 184 million debt.
KCCA retains responsibility for overall-exhaust electricity inside of the market—corresponding to for restrooms and security lights—and has installed photo voltaic-powered lights to be sure uninterrupted carrier in those areas. The electricity on the coronary heart of the dispute is that dilapidated by particular individual distributors for his or her non-public industry operations. KCCA took over the management of metropolis markets in 2022 following a presidential directive, and continues to oversee operations precise through all markets in Kampala.
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