Cabinet has approved the Interim Statutory Instrument for the Establishment and Management of the Rural Electrification Fund to increase the number of homesteads connected to the national grid under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development , Information Minister Ms. Judith Nabakooba has said.
The Cabinet decision to set up the fund comes at a time when there is wide spread complaints about the poor performance of Umeme -the power distributing company whose electricity billing system is erratic and has angered many consumers.
Sources at the Energy Ministry intimidated to this publication that the top management has taken note of the public’s feedback about Umeme’s unreliable token -system and “heads will roll” . Some members of the Uganda Law Society have already put Umeme and the regulator- the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) on notice that unless government fixes the mess in Umeme -they will proceed to institute a Public Interest suit against the company .
Nabakooba further revealed that among other cabinet decisions taken was the approval of a proposal for Government to takeover payment of Pension and Arrears of former employees of Uganda Posts and Telecommunications albeit in a phased manner.
Cabinet also okayed the Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (Amendment Bill, 2021) that seeks to create the remuneration for the Offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Authority and Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Urban Division Councils.
