By KT Reporter
More than 200 solar street lights installed in Hoima City under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme, funded by the World Bank, have been vandalized since September last year, according to statistics obtained from the city offices.
Of these, city authorities have so far managed to replace only 56 solar street lights for 70 million shillings, leaving large parts of the city in darkness. Residents say the non-functional streetlights have created safe havens for criminals, who target unsuspecting pedestrians, motorists, and street vendors at night, resulting in robberies, injuries, and, in some cases, fatalities.
Most of the vandalised solar street lights are located in Kiryatete, Kinubi, Mukati, Lusaka, Bujumbura, Kiganda, and Kibaati, all suburbs of Hoima City, while others are along Kabaleega, Bunyoro-Kitara, Hoima–Fort Portal, Persy, Hoima–Butiaba, and Kwebiha streets, among others.
Residents in Hoima City have expressed concern over the rising crime rates, which they attribute to the malfunctioning street lights. Thugs are reportedly taking advantage of the vandalised lights to terrorise residents in dark spots across the city.Stephen Kisembo, a resident of Kigandan Cell in Hoima West Division, says criminals are using the cover of darkness to waylay road users, break into houses, and assault individuals without being easily noticed or identified.
Margret Nyamahunge, who operates a mobile restaurant along the Hoima–Fort Portal road, says they are sometimes forced to use candles and lamps for lighting during night hours due to the absence of street lights. She demands that city authorities immediately repair the vandalised lights.
Abudallah Kagwa, a boda boda rider, says operating in areas where street lights have been vandalised has become risky, as thugs hide in such places to target people. He says many people have been attacked at night in areas where the lights are not functioning.
Rosette Kusiima, a roadside vendor in Kiryatete suburb, says the situation has made life difficult, especially for those who operate during night hours.
Robert Wamani, a resident of Kinubi Cell, says it is too risky, especially for women, to pass through the hotspots at night due to groups of thugs targeting vendors and motorists under the cover of darkness.
Hoima City Mayor Brian Kaboyo acknowledges the problem, saying vandalism of street lights has become a major security threat to residents, yet replacing or repairing solar lights is very expensive. He says the city needs between 300 and 500 million shillings to fully repair all the vandalised street lights.
Kaboyo has appealed to residents to take ownership of government projects, guard them against vandalism, and report anyone found tampering with the street lights for immediate action.
Albertine Region Police Spokesperson Julius Hakiza says investigations are ongoing to trace the suspects involved in vandalising the street lights. He has appealed to the public to work closely with security and city authorities by providing information that could lead to the arrest and detention of the culprits.
Hakiza admits that the lack of street lights in some parts of the city has turned many areas into danger zones, putting public safety at risk. He adds that darkness provides cover for criminals, increases fear among residents, and makes it difficult to detect and report suspicious activity.
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