Humanist

Dear Umeme Limited specifically, Umeme Uganda limited, today is Day 10 when I am off the power grid.

Yes, I did notify you about it via telephone and X DM. Three days after, you sent Engineers on sight who informed me why.

Criminals stole my electricity metre from the pole and the power cable that connects my house to the grid.

The metre that they stole was installed decades ago, perhaps even while I was a toddler in the 1970s. It was registered in the names ot Edward Bigirwa, who was a tenant in my late papa’s semi-detached apartments.

Mr. Bigirwa lived here for decades, moved out and other tenants moved in and the all continued to use the same metre.

When I moved back home, closer to my late papa, in 2016, to become his primary care giver as his health deteriorated, I took it over.

Papa gifted me the two apartments which I renovated in his lifetime and converted into one house. How papa loved it and praised the work done.

Anyway, back to the point. Umeme will not replace the stolen metre and cable, because am not Edward Bigirwa.

I have two options:

Find Edward Bigirwa and get him to go with his national ID to Umeme and relinquish ownership of the metre to me. Mmmmmm. A tall order for me as it may be the case that he is no longer alive.

And so I ask your help to find Edward Bigirwa and or his next of kin.

This is so I may ask him or them to assist me to utilize this option, which would be quicker and less costly. As in, hopefully, Umeme will give me my Yaka units already paid for and stolen with the metre and will replace it free of charge.

I have reported the suspects to police. In order to steal a metre installed on a pole connected to a live electricity wire one needs to have technical know how.

To steal it from a pole located right opposite a police station and from a gated home, the theif needs an outsider to make the theft seem legitimate. It is the latter kind suspects, the insiders,  I have reported to police.

The other option for Umeme to connect my house back to the power grid is if I apply for a new metre in my name. It would take a maximum of three weeks to install and at over half a million shillings!

While am not letting them steal my joy I think that a conversation needs to be had here on Umeme policy. What is your take on this? Is Umeme justified to act in this manner seemingly punishing it’s paying customers and creating ‘business’ for criminals?

Anyway, ending on a positive note. Enjoying a late breakfast on Sunday in my front yard garden as I catch up with reading for joy is a tradition that I love. I did it today. Oh yes, it is a tradition I get to share with my special people sometimes.

Stay blessed and don’t let them steal your joy.