17 Charged with Terrorism for Vandalizing Uganda’s Power Grid

By David Mwanje

KAMPALA– Seventeen suspects, including Joseph Ssemanda, Emmanuel Kato, and Yasin Mutyaba, have been charged with terrorism in Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court for vandalizing electricity infrastructure across Uganda. The attacks, spanning 2022 to May 2025, targeted power lines in Kampala, Luweero, Nakasongola, Mityana, Kiboga, and Mubende, causing widespread blackouts, disrupting key facilities like Luweero Industries and Nakasongola Military Hospital, and driving up repair costs.

“This is not mere theft; it’s an attack on Uganda’s progress,” declared AIGP Tom Magambo, Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, in a stern warning to would-be saboteurs. “Let those sabotaging our electricity infrastructure be warned: jail awaits you, and the consequences will be severe.”

The vandalism, which involved cutting transmission poles with power saws and stealing wires, aimed to intimidate the public and pressure the government for political and economic motives, authorities say. Some suspects were caught in the act during intelligence-led operations. The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL) has urged citizens to report suspicious activities near power installations to help protect the nation’s electricity supply.

President Museveni, addressing the crisis during his Parish Development Model tour in Luweero, has taken a hardline stance, directing Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to form an inter-agency security committee to combat the vandalism. In a controversial move, Museveni suggested a “shoot-to-kill” policy to deter future attacks, stating, “Once we shoot some of them, they will lose their appetite.” The directive has drawn mixed reactions, with critics on platforms like X warning of potential human rights abuses and targeting of opposition supporters. One user remarked, “A thief doesn’t deserve a shoot-to-kill order… I will not be surprised if most of the victims are NUP/opposition.”

As the case unfolds, the nation watches closely, with the government’s aggressive response raising questions about balancing security with justice in Uganda’s quest for a stable power future.