From illegal power connection to death

Mayuge, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Busoga East have confirmed the death of Amuza Woya, 30, a resident of Musima village in Mpungwe sub-county, Mayuge district. He reportedly died from electrocution while making an illegal power connection to his house last night.

According to reports, Woya climbed the electric poles on Tuesday night without the necessary protective gear to tap electricity. He was, however, electrocuted and fell lifeless to the ground. Moses Kyobe, a resident, said that they heard a significant blast around the transformer and contacted UMEME officials. He says that they initially thought there was a short circuit only to discover that Woya had been electrocuted.

Kyobe explained that some residents take advantage of frequent blackouts to illegally tap power. He noted that when electricity stabilizes unexpectedly, such attempts result in severe accidents. Diana Nandawula, the Busoga East police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said that the deceased had been taken to Mayuge Health Center IV mortuary for a postmortem examination before being handed over to the family for burial.

She highlighted Mayuge district as a major area for illegal power connections. Nandawula noted that efforts are underway to collaborate with UMEME in educating the public about the risks associated with illegal power connections. She urged the public to seek professional assistance when connecting power to their homes, emphasizing the dangers of relying on cheap labor, which often leads to electrocution.

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