NELSON K
The Mayor of Kacereere Town Council, Mr. Eliab Mugambagye, has raised concerns over increasing poor service delivery and underdevelopment in his area, attributing much of it to a lack of road funds from the central government.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Boona Radio, Mr. Mugambagye pointed out persistent challenges in electricity supply, which he said have hindered economic growth and created frustration among residents.
He revealed that in Kacereere Ward, one transformer has been replaced three times in just four years, leaving homes and businesses in darkness for long periods. This, he said, has disrupted employment opportunities that depend on electricity.
The mayor also highlighted the plight of residents in Nyarukoro Trading Centre, Nyanatembe Ward, who were connected with poles and wires more than six years ago but have never received a transformer to complete the connection. “This shortage of electricity is one of the key factors hindering economic development, increasing unemployment, and even contributing to crime due to darkness,” he said.
Mr. Mugambagye further alleged that some technicians could be behind the theft of vital transformer parts, which often leads to faults and blowouts. He added that there are suspicions that some transformers installed by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) may be of poor quality.
He raised fresh alarms over stolen wires on the electricity line connecting to Great Shepherd Nursery and Primary School. Despite reporting the issue, along with a faulty transformer, to UEDCL offices in Muko, he said no serious action had been taken. He called on UEDCL to step up surveillance and take swift measures to address the problem.
On infrastructure, the mayor faulted the lack of road funds from the central government, saying it has hampered the construction and maintenance of feeder roads, which are vital for easy movement and transporting agricultural produce.
However, Mr. Mugambagye applauded the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that it has significantly boosted household incomes and agricultural productivity. He said many farmers have used PDM funds to purchase high-quality Irish potato seeds, replacing poor-yielding varieties.
“The PDM has been a game changer for our farmers. It has helped improve food production and contributed to household economic growth,” he said.
