Journalist Andrew Irumba has raised fresh allegations of corruption within the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), calling on Parliament’s oversight committee to investigate what he described as a “multi-billion” meter replacement scheme.
His claims come as senior UEDCL officials appear before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), which is currently examining operations within the state utility.
“I speak what others fear,” Irumba stated, alleging that his past investigations uncovered a coordinated effort to phase out Umeme Yaka meters for financial gain.
According to Irumba, the matter dates back to December last year when individuals he believed to be UEDCL staff removed a meter reader from his residence in Kisaasi.
“Suspected staff members… came to my area at around 8pm, climbed the pole and removed the meter reader. I didn’t suspect anything because power remained on,” he said.
The situation escalated in January when another technician reportedly informed him he was using electricity without proper metering and needed to install a new device.
“He told me I was consuming power that was not being counted. That is when I realised it was their own staff who had removed the meter reader,” Irumba explained.
He said officials at UEDCL’s Ntinda office initially demanded that he purchase a new meter, citing failure to report the earlier removal as theft.
“I told them there was no way I would pay for a property they themselves had taken,” he said, adding that he escalated the matter to senior management before eventually receiving a replacement at no cost after months of follow-up.
Irumba further claimed that his independent investigation revealed a broader scheme involving deliberate removal of Umeme meters to force customers into buying new UEDCL devices.
“They had their own supplier and wanted to phase out Umeme meters quickly because of kickbacks. If you refused, they would disconnect your power,” he alleged.
He also claimed that some insiders admitted the older meters were more reliable but were being replaced due to financial interests.
“These meters were better in quality and durability, but they had to be removed so certain individuals could make money,” he said.