Umeme controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2018
Gulu demonstration over recurring outages
Hundreds of residents and business operators demonstrated outside Umeme’s Gulu office. Security forces used tear gas and one person was reported shot during the dispersal.
2014
Further parliamentary allegations over procurement and contract terms
Parliament again called for termination, describing the procurement process and provisions of the distribution agreements as problematic. The government ultimately retained the concession.
2014
Violence during Mubende and Kampala outage protests
A Umeme manager was badly beaten during protests in Mubende, while later demonstrations by Kampala businesses over extended power cuts were dispersed with tear gas.
2013
Parliamentary criticism of the concession
A parliamentary probe recommended cancelling Umeme’s concession, citing chronic service problems and concerns about the arrangement’s procurement and financial implications. The recommendation was not implemented.
2011
Outage-related protests in Jinja and Masaka
Extended outages led to barricades, burning tires, marches and confrontations with security forces in Jinja and Masaka.
2010
Public protests over prolonged outages
A two-week blackout in Bugembe triggered protests and clashes with police, illustrating the public backlash associated with unreliable service.