Kitongo Residents Demand Urgent Action on Months-Long Outage

For over three months, residents of Kitongo village in Butayunja sub-county, Busujju County, Mityana District, have endured life in darkness. A persistent power outage has not only disrupted livelihoods but also brought several local businesses to a grinding halt.

A walk through the town of Katonga paints a picture of resilience laced with desperation. The hum of generators has become the town’s new anthem, blaring from nearly every shop still in operation. Coffee processing machines, salons, and retail stores now rely entirely on costly fuel-powered generators. Many business owners who can’t afford the daily expense have closed shop.

“This power blackout is suffocating us,” said Hasifa Nanyanzi, a shop owner. “We’ve been in the dark for months, and I’m spending more on fuel than I earn. It’s no longer sustainable.”

The community, tired of waiting, has begun raising its voice. Protests have emerged, with residents demanding answers and accountability from authorities.

“We’ve gone for too long without electricity,” said Isaac Kaganda, a local trader. “We’ve made reports, we’ve waited patiently, but nothing has changed. Our businesses are suffering, our children can’t study in the evenings, and life has become unbearable.”

Even for those who can afford generators, the burden is heavy. Many point out that the cost of fuel has made their daily operations nearly impossible.

“Electricity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said elder resident Kato Dennis. “We’ve been ignored long enough. We need power, not promises.”

In response to the growing discontent, village leaders have joined residents in calling on the government to act swiftly. Mityana Woman Member of Parliament, Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa, acknowledged the plight of her constituents and confirmed she had escalated the issue.

“I reached out to the responsible authorities, and they assured me the situation would be handled within a week. They promised that by next week, power would be restored,” Bagala noted.

Bagala emphasised her continued engagement, saying, “This is not a promise I’m taking lightly. I will keep following up until the lights come back on,” she added.

The power outage had earlier been reported to the Minister for Lands and Housing, Judith Nabakooba. According to officials, she conveyed the residents’ concerns to the minister responsible for energy and power supply.

“I understand the frustrations of the people in Mityana, and I ensure that your concerns have already reached the right ministry for action,” Minister Judith Nabakooba stated.

Despite these assurances, the mood in Kitongo remains tense and uncertain. The community, while hopeful, is growing impatient after months of darkness. As another week begins, Kitongo’s residents brace themselves—still in the dark, but not silent.

Electricity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said elder resident Kato Dennis. “We’ve been ignored long enough. We need power, not promises