By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/ Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Members of Uganda Electricity and Allied Worker’s Union are decrying security operatives that have rampantly arrested UMEME field staff in what they called ‘unlawful’ claiming to be enforcing Ministry of energy orders following the campaign against electricity vandalism.
Addressing press at Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) Offices this afternoon Mivule Goodson- a UMEME field workers and member of Uganda Electricity and Allied Workers stressed that while it is understandable that there is need to curb rampant vandalism of electrical infrastructure, he is concerned that on several occasions the arrests target wrong persons and detained while on official duties on baseless and unfounded charges.
“These illegal detentions are detrimental and disruptive to public service delivery of this essential sector. We therefore request top national security to reign over their operatives who masquerade around arresting rightfully duty-bound field staff”. Said Mivule.
On behalf the Union, Mivule sought and advised that UMEME Ltd should come out strongly and enforce its disciplinary code of conduct.
Mivule says that at the moment, over 5o filed staff have been arrest since the campaign began but to make matters worse their what-abouts are not known neither have they been charged which is worrisome.
He sought that the jailed staff be released immediately or be produce to court to understand their charges.
Aske whether they have other plans like ‘sit down strike’ if their queries are not responded to appropriately, Mivule said that they haven’t thought of that but all they want is streamlining the campaign against electricity vandalism.
UMEME Field-staff at work/Courtesy photo.
To Edome Herbert also a member of the Union said that the incident that happened in Mukono where a one Monday Darius- a UMEME field staff was arbitrary arrested by security operatives accusing him of vandalizing electricity in the area, beaten up and dragged in the ‘drone car’.
He continues to says that these operatives went on to approach their Darius’ supervisor in Mukono Mr. Kibinge Henry to inform him of his arrest but nothing was done because they seemed mightier,
“Because we work 24/7, that’s why we came up as the Union to popularize this issue such that we can get help. As a Union, we strongly condemn such acts against our staff as this discourages and distorts our work”. Edome said.
In the same way Bwete Tony also a field staff at UMEME pointed that the situation in which fellow staff are arrested has started to scare them from helping their customers that run to them in case of emergency especially at night in fear of being arrested as vandalizers.
Its against this background that Bwete sought for cooperation between them (UMEME field Staff) and security operatives so that they can execute their duties diligently.
Early this months, Joint Security Agencies of Flying Squad, Crime Intelligence and the respective territorial units of Mukono, Lugazi, Kassangati, Kyengera and KMP South, conducted several intelligence led operations that led to the arrest of 14 suspects, both vandals and scrap dealers, who were actively involved in the malicious damage and theft of Electricity Power Lines and other utility infrastructure from the 12.11.2022 till the 30.11.2022 in Kivuvu village, Mukono , Nasuti village, Mukono Kijude village Gayaza, that led to massive power blackouts.