{UAH} Police lack money to pay for electricity, says Gen Odongo

Folks;

This admission by the government, that it lacks money to pay for electricity at police barracks, is an eye-opener of sorts. 

First, it's a sign of poor budget planning, since electricity consumption at these institutions is mostly constant. Secondly, this is another evidence that government is not a reliable customer for any consumable services.

A while back, President Museveni made the same statement: that knowing what he knows about his government, if he were into business, he wouldn't do it with the government! 

Nonetheless, police, army, schools and colleges, and all such large institutions should switch to solar energy for their power needs.

By going solar, we would create jobs, save costs and enjoy more reliable power supply.

Pojim

PARLIAMENT- The perennial power blackout in Nsambya Police Barracks in Kampala, will continue because the Ministry of Internal Affairs lacks money to sustain a constant power supply in the garrison.

Gen Jeje Odongo, the Internal Affairs minister told Parliament on Tuesday, that they need Shs1.46 billion every three months, to provide a stable electricity supply in the barracks yet the approved  quarterly budget for all utilities like water in the garrison, is Shs640 million.

"Due to this financial constraint, there is therefore, no way we can avoid power blackout in Nsambya Barracks," the minister said.

He was responding to a question that was raised last month by Nakaseke South Member of Parliament Mr Semakula Luttamaguzi, who told Parliament that police officers in the barracks had spent two months without electricity.

Gen Odongo said Uganda police needs at least Shs2 billion per quarter, to cater for electricity bills in all barracks across the country.

On August 2, Daily Monitor reported that several police barracks in Kampala were facing power and water shortage.