Kitgum Municipal Council has begun a phased replacement of ageing solar streetlights after dozens of the installations developed faults, with authorities blaming the problem largely on the expiry of equipment installed about a decade ago. Richard Ojara Okwera the Kitgum Municipal Mayor, said the affected lights were installed in 2016 and were designed to operate for about seven years, meaning many have now exceeded their expected lifespan.
He said the ageing lights are gradually losing their brightness as batteries deteriorate, while some have stopped functioning completely.
According to Ojara, the municipality currently has about 552 solar streetlights, including approximately 150 lights installed by Chongqing International Construction Company-CICO. Of the CICO installations, he said a significant number have become dysfunctional or are operating below their original capacity. He said the municipality had initially identified about 52 dysfunctional lights but had reduced the number to approximately 41 after undertaking repairs and replacements.
The repaired lights are in different parts of the municipality, including near the Gapco building, Bomah Grounds, Kitgum Central Police Station, Apollo Grounds, Fimbo, Dewalt and Ayul.
Ojara said the municipality spent about Shs18 million to repair and restore nine solar lights during the last financial year, translating to an average of about Shs2 million per light.
The cost includes purchasing a new battery, replacing the lighting system and hiring specialised equipment needed to access lights installed on high poles.
The mayor said the municipality plans to repair or replace another 10 percent of the dysfunctional lights during the current financial year as part of efforts to gradually restore all ageing installations.
He said the municipality’s other solar streetlights, including those installed through World Bank and USMID-supported projects, remain largely functional.
“All the World Bank lights, the USMID lights, I can say 99 percent are working. Only around one, two or three could be having a slight problem,” Ojara said.
Ojara said even some of the CICO lights that are still operational no longer provide the same level of illumination because their batteries and other components are approaching the end of their useful life.
Geoffrey Opira, a resident of Lulojo, commended the municipality for the planned repairs of streetlights, saying that dark spots created by non-functional streetlights are being exploited by criminal groups to break into homes and carry out unlawful activities during the night.
“At night, these people use this opportunity because there is no light for them to penetrate people’s homes, to break and do other things which are not necessary in town,” Opira said.
Joyce Akidi, a resident of Westland Ward in Central Division, said poor lighting had previously forced her to rush home before it became too dark.
“When the lights are working, I feel more comfortable moving from the town center because I can see the road and other people around me,” Akidi said.
Pamela Lanyero, a mobile fruit vendor, said street lighting was important for women who must travel at night after attending to businesses, work or family responsibilities. “Sometimes you finish work late and you have to walk home. When the road is dark, you become afraid. The lights give us confidence to move,” Lanyero said.
