According to the business community in Acholi sub region, the long and unscheduled power cuts by Umeme is hurting businesses with many saying that they have been forced to slash their workforce and one in ten is threatened with closure.  According to residents in Gulu for example, the town has been facing power cuts lasting between 12 to 24 hours since March this year.

Due to the long hours of power outrages, traders say that they have been forced to rely on generators, whose running costs are extremely high particularly the cost of petrol and diesel, at the expense of profit.

Many are threatening to protest if the unjustified 24 hours load shedding continues in the next couple of weeks.

The Managing Director of Javanest Computer Bureau Khalid Kelly, said that the internet café business depends on power, so without electricity in the town; the business is almost dead

“With the high price of petrol we try to run the café on 2-4 days a week and if power fails to return, we may be threatened with closure because we would be working at a lost.” Kalid said.

Students of Gulu University said that they too faced difficulties with their revision whilst preparing for exams that ended last week.

The prolonged power outage has also resulted in water shortages in Divisions such as Pece, Laroo and Layibi.

Umeme’s northern region Manager, Ms Elizabeth Muhangi, said that the line into Gulu was under construction, adding that the shutdown was only supposed to last three months.

According to Umeme’s performance measurement conducted in April 2012 and seen by this newspaper at company’s office, there were 17 illegal connections in their catchment area.