By Our Reporter
BUDADIRI, SIRONKO
Residents and business owners in Budadiri Town Council are set to regain electricity after nearly two months of darkness, following the successful acquisition of a new 315KVA transformer secured through the intervention of Budadiri East Member of Parliament Julius Nakiyi.
The old 100KVA transformer serving the town council failed due to overloading, plunging homes, shops, and enterprises into a prolonged power outage that has disrupted daily life and commercial activity across the area in Sironko District.
In a statement released Friday, Hon. Nakiyi confirmed that the larger-capacity transformer has been secured through engagement with the Government of Uganda via the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
“I’m pleased to announce that we have secured a new 315KVA transformer for Budadiri Town Council in Sironko District following our engagement with the Government of Uganda through UEDCL,” Nakiyi said.
The new unit is already en route. According to the MP, it is leaving UEDCL stores in Lugogo, Kampala, bound for Mbale before final delivery and installation in Sironko.
Nakiyi expressed sympathy for local businesses that have suffered losses during the extended outage and thanked residents for their patience throughout the disruption.
He also issued a strong appeal for responsible use of the electricity network once power is restored. “I urge everyone to avoid illegal power connections, which endanger lives and disrupt electricity supply,” he said. “Together, let us protect our power infrastructure for the benefit of everyone.”
The upgrade from 100KVA to 315KVA is expected to provide greater capacity and reduce the risk of future overloading in the growing town council. Installation is anticipated once the transformer reaches Sironko, though UEDCL has not yet publicly confirmed an exact timeline for reconnection.
The prolonged blackout has underscored both the vulnerability of aging distribution infrastructure in parts of eastern Uganda and the impact of sustained community and political pressure in securing replacements.
