Uganda has been rocked by one of its most alarming sabotage cases in years. Power grid terrorism has taken center stage as 17 suspects were dragged before court, accused of deliberately plunging parts of the country into darkness. The magnitude of the alleged crime? Disabling electricity supply to key military and industrial installations—endangering lives and national security.
These suspects—Joseph Ssemanda, Emmanuel Kato, Yasin Mutyaba, Arafat Kakerewe, Josephat Muhumuza, Yusuf Abdul Razak, Pius Habasa, Pius Kyarisiima, Gerald Ampumuza, Fredrick Otieno, Robert Nirere, Ayub Badda, Yasin Mutebi, John Muyingo, Juma Mutabazi, Ssezario Tumwekwatse, and Deo James Kawalya—stood silently in the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court on July 2, 2025, as grave terrorism charges were read to them.
The Accusation: Strategic National Sabotage
The state claims the 17 were not mere vandals. Instead, they formed part of a well-orchestrated plot to destabilize Uganda’s electricity backbone. From Kampala to Luweero, Nakasongola, Mityana, Kiboga, and Mubende, they allegedly waged a silent war—targeting transformers, tampering with high-voltage lines, and crippling energy flow to places like Luweero Industries and the Nakasongola Military Hospital.
Their objective? According to prosecutors, to spread fear, frustrate the government, and provoke social and economic chaos.
Because of the capital nature of the charges, the accused weren’t allowed to enter pleas. Magistrate Andrew Katurubuki adjourned the case to July 17, as investigators continue digging into the case.
A Coordinated Crackdown
Behind these arrests was an elite joint force—UEDCL, Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), and the UPDF. Together, they executed a sweeping operation across vandalism hotspots including Bombo, Mityana, Masaka, and Mukono.
Jonan Kiiza, spokesperson for UEDCL, didn’t mince words. “These aren’t petty criminals,” he said. “They are economic terrorists who cripple businesses, destroy livelihoods, and endanger lives. What we’ve uncovered is a serious threat to national stability.”
Economic Sabotage on a Grand Scale
Vandalism and power theft are no longer random crimes—they’ve become weapons of disruption. Kiiza pointed to Uganda’s Electricity (Amendment) Act 2022, which slams offenders with 15 years in prison, fines of UGX 2 billion, or both. He called these attacks “economic terrorism”.
Every stolen cable or smashed transformer bleeds billions from national coffers. Funds meant to expand power access and modernize the grid now go into damage control.
“We’re being forced to rebuild instead of grow,” Kiiza lamented. “The dream of universal access to power is fading every time someone tears down a pylon.”
The Human Cost of Darkness
These acts aren’t just financial—they’re deeply personal. When hospitals lose power, lives hang in the balance. When schools go dark, learning stops. Businesses suffer. Families suffer.
And it’s not just the victims. Those who attempt these crimes often underestimate the danger. Some die instantly. Others suffer permanent injuries from electrocution.
“You can’t expect cheap, reliable power when your neighbor is stealing it or destroying the grid,” Kiiza said. “It’s reckless. It’s suicidal.”
Every Citizen Has a Role
Kiiza made a desperate appeal to the public: guard what belongs to you. Transformers, cables, and substations are not just government property—they’re lifelines.
“These installations serve your homes, your businesses, your hospitals,” he said. “Protect them like your life depends on it—because it does.”
As the investigation unfolds, Uganda now faces a reckoning. This case could become a landmark in the fight against power grid terrorism—and a turning point in how the country secures its critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, several other legal battles are making headlines. In Lira City, a land dispute involving Uganda Police has escalated to court, as seen here. At the same time, Eron Kiiza is fighting a legal case over delayed passport issuance, covered here. Investigators are also closing in on Kampala robbery suspects, detailed here, while the Attorney General has responded to the issue of MPs holding dual offices, reported here.
