Senior Reporter
Authorities in Kabale Municipality are growing increasingly concerned about the rising vandalism of street lights along major roads, which they say is posing a threat to public safety and increasing insecurity.
According to Kedress Mutabazi, the Deputy Mayor of Kabale Municipality, there have been 10 instances of street lights being vandalized, with thieves taking solar panels and batteries. The most affected areas include Johnson Road, Jackson Road, leading to Kabale District Headquarters and Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, as well as Rugarama Road, which leads to the Diocese of Kigezi headquarters.
The municipality had invested Ugx 2 Billion this year to install 200 street lights along important routes such as Johnson Road, Jackson Road, and Rugarama Road. Their goal was to improve safety for Kabale residents during nighttime and provide better access to hospitals. However, the vandalism has become a setback, resulting in a loss of Ugx 100 Million to reinstall the 10 vandalized street lights on major roads.
Sam Arineitwe, the LC3 Chairman for the Central Division of Kabale Municipality, suggests a different approach to street lighting. He recommends exploring alternative power generation methods, like the example of Kalangala, and advocates for a centralized power plant to illuminate key areas. This approach could minimize security concerns associated with dispersed street lights.
Eng Peter Nkurunungi, Director of Geses Uganda Limited, the company responsible for installing street lights in Kabale Municipality, has reported the incidents to relevant authorities and called for swift action. He also suggests increasing police patrols to prevent further vandalism and recommends incorporating cameras into street lights for enhanced security.
The Kigezi region Police spokesperson, Elly Maate, has confirmed that investigations are ongoing, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation.
In 2021, the Uganda National Roads Authority replaced solar lights on Kabale High Street with hydro-electricity powered alternatives due to the inefficiency of the solar system caused by inadequate sunlight for battery charging.
