By Flavia Ajok
Business operators in Kabarwana Cell, Central Division of Masindi Municipality are expressing frustration after spending nearly two weeks without electricity, a situation they say has severely disrupted their livelihoods.
The traders say the prolonged blackout has paralyzed their businesses, as most of them depend entirely on electricity to operate.
Gorret Murungi, a shop attendant says they were informed that the area transformer developed a fault. However, despite that explanation, they have now spent about two weeks without power.
She notes that they are no longer selling cold drinks, which are among their fastest-moving items, especially during the dry season.
She has appealed to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to urgently intervene and restore power.
Jim Muhwezi, a barber says the outage has left his family struggling to get basic necessities as they survive on daily earnings.
Muhwezi adds that despite paying taxes to the Uganda Revenue Authority and municipal authorities, they continue to suffer losses due to the blackout.
Tony Olima, another barber, says he has resorted to using a rechargeable shaving machine, which he describes as inefficient and costly to maintain claiming that the prolonged power outage has contributed to increased theft cases in the area.
