President Yoweri Museveni has directed his son and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to establish an inter-agency security committee to confront the escalating vandalism of electricity infrastructure in central Uganda.
The president’s directive comes in response to a surge in power vandalism incidents across Nakasongola, Luwero, and Nakaseke districts, which have left several communities in prolonged blackouts.
Vandals have reportedly used saws to cut down power poles and stolen electric wires, plunging homes and businesses into darkness. While speaking to journalists at State Lodge Luwero during his ongoing Parish Development Model (PDM) tour, Museveni condemned the sabotage and suggested that a “shoot-to-kill” approach might be necessary to curb the destruction.
“Once we shoot some of them, they will lose their appetite,” Museveni said.
His remarks followed questions from journalists about the government’s plans to address the persistent vandalism that has crippled business activity and affected livelihoods in the affected districts.
Among the measures being proposed are intensified security deployments and the installation of CCTV cameras in vandalism hotspots. The most recent attacks were reported in Wabigalo, Kakooge, and Katuugo towns in Nakasongola district, where electric poles were cut and hundreds of meters of wire were stolen.
In December 2024, vandals destroyed two high-voltage poles in Lubenge swamp near Kakooge and made away with over 600 meters of wire, valued at Shs 20 million. Local security reports suggest that many of the suspects originate from Kampala and Wakiso districts.
In November 2024, three men from Matugga town in Wakiso were arrested in Kitasure village, Kikyusa sub-county, Luwero district, after being caught red-handed by residents cutting electric wires.
In a separate incident in June 2024, five suspects from the same region were arrested in Nakaseke over similar crimes. The issue is not new. In 2021, the now-defunct UMEME, Uganda’s former power distributor, reported losses of over Shs 26 billion due to vandalism of transformers, stolen copper wires, and damaged poles.
In light of the rising economic and public safety risks, security officials have proposed charging suspected vandals under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which would introduce stiffer penalties, including longer jail terms, to serve as a deterrent.
The president’s directive now places the burden of action squarely on Muhoozi, who is expected to coordinate military and police intelligence, local leaders, and other security agencies to end what the president described as a form of economic sabotage. Museveni said the vandals are not just thieves but also enemies of progress who cannot be allowed to disrupt Uganda’s transformation journey.
For once i can turn a blind eye to that suggestion and take those idiots out
I see where you’re coming from Mbazzi… sseruganda. The headline though … ruler orders son to kill in 2025, As we try to mimic the more advanced legal norms, our barbaric ways, kandooya former obote soldiers being burned with tyres come to mind.
Advanced as we want to profess ourselves be, a thief doesn’t deserve a shoot to kill order. We just kill and this head-in-ass kid in a 45yr old drunken body will surely do that.
I will not be surprised if most of the victims are NUP/opposition.
The problem of Uganda is stupid people like Mbazzi, we already have laws to prosecute such people. Why not target the people buying the stolen wires. No market no theft…
The problem of Uganda is stupid people like Mbazzi, we already have laws to prosecute such people. Why not target the people buying the stolen wires. No market no theft…
I do not like these ideas of putting it into citizens heads that for every problem you have to get a gun and shoot people, the people proposing that are very old; why should a guy who is going to be 90 yrs and another who is above 50yrs advocate for violence. Violence is a young man’s game. It is not in these old people’s interest to advocate violence…at their ages they should be advocating for rule of law, they no longer have the stamina for violence…imagine a 90 year old grandfather with wasted muscles advocating for violence…There are systems in place, use them- This thing of everything violence, neda, paka di ?
As a country, let us look ahead, violence is not the solution for everything, eventually everyone gets old, what will you do then when you planted the seeds of violence in the younger generation, will you be protected? LET US LOOK AHEAD…
This has become a lawless country where the gun is the order of the day. A gun trotting hood does not like your looks, the way to look or talk, wants what you have, you do not support NRM there you are good to be jailed or gunned down. Dear fellows we are done and only in the hands of God because when you leave your house the chances of coming back home alive are very slim. This is your Uganda today.
Our fantastic and bright guy Muhoozi has finally got his chance to put his threats into practice legally. He has his blessings from the ever faithful NRM MPs. Well done the so called honorables and your well earned bribe but watch your conscience and the consequences.