By Our Reporter
In a sweeping crackdown on electricity infrastructure vandalism, seventeen suspects — including Joseph Ssemanda, Emmanuel Kato, and Yasin Mutyaba — have been charged with terrorism before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court. The group is accused of orchestrating coordinated attacks on Uganda’s power grid from 2022 through May 2025, leaving a trail of destruction, blackouts, and economic disruption across multiple districts.
The targeted sabotage reportedly affected key areas including Kampala, Luweero, Nakasongola, Mityana, Kiboga, and Mubende. The attacks crippled vital installations such as Luweero Industries and Nakasongola Military Hospital, prompting urgent national security concerns.
According to prosecutors, the vandals used power saws to cut transmission poles and looted critical components, including copper wires — a sophisticated scheme allegedly designed to intimidate the public and pressure government for political or economic leverage.
AIGP Tom Magambo, Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), issued a harsh warning to other potential offenders:
“This is not mere theft; it’s an attack on Uganda’s progress. Let those sabotaging our electricity infrastructure be warned: jail awaits you, and the consequences will be severe.”
Several suspects were arrested in the act, during intelligence-led operations, authorities confirmed.
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), which bore the brunt of the destruction, has urged Ugandans to report suspicious activity around power infrastructure, warning that continued sabotage could reverse development gains and affect public services nationwide.
The crisis has drawn the attention of President Yoweri Museveni, who addressed it during his Parish Development Model tour in Luweero. Taking a hardline stance, Museveni instructed Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to form an inter-agency security task force to curb further attacks.
As court proceedings begin, the case has evolved into a national flashpoint, raising broader questions about security, justice, and state power in Uganda’s quest to protect its critical infrastructure.