Several speakers took to the floor with bitterness, accusing ERA of failing them economically by not playing its regulatory role to ensure the region is well supplied with electricity.
Residents of Arua have accused the Electricity Regulatory Authority-ERA of sabotaging development in the area.
This was during a meeting which was convened on Wednesday by three ERA officials at Hotel Pacific in Arua town to address power concerns of consumers failed to take off for over two and half hours.
However, by midday, the meeting kicked off with presentations by two ERA officials who were immediately interrupted by power consumers who demanded that ERA listens to their concerns instead of addressing them with issues that are not of concern to them.
Several speakers took to the floor with bitterness, accusing ERA of failing them economically by not playing its regulatory role to ensure the region is well supplied with electricity.
// Cue in; you are aware … Cue out; up to W. Nile…. //
Jackson Atima the chairman Chamber of Commerce Arua district and coordinator West Nile Business Community described the actions of ERA as political sabotage aimed at failing the government efforts to develop the region.
// Cue in; I’m very much … Cue out; W. Nile to grow…. //
It took the intervention of the Deputy RDC Arua Alice Akello to calm the meeting after participants turned rowdy accusing ERA officials of failing development in the region.
// Cue in; we have not come … Cue out; from all corners…. //
However, Ronnie Amandu the network controller and head of emergency WENRECo explained that the company is equally in a fix because the power they generate remains limited and also appeals to government for the Karuma Dam power to light up and attract industrialization in West Nile.
// Cue in; Nyagak is not enough … Cue out; a grid extension…. //
But Catherine Nabongo Supervisor ERA and chief convener of the meeting was forced to adjourn the meeting after the participants told her to take the issues raised to ERA headquarters since she and her two colleagues could not adequately respond to them. She also pleaded with the power consumers to be patient as the power from Karuma Dam is connected to the region.
// Cue in; For raising all the … Cue out; should be patient…. //
Story by Candia Stephen
