The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has successfully connected electricity to the Goli One Stop Border Post customs in Boma East Village in Jupangira sub-county, Nebbi district. Nathan Wonaila, an electrical engineer at URA, revealed during an interview with URN over the weekend that the project cost approximately Shillings 160 million, which covered restoring power to the customs post as well as the local community.
In 2020, a devastating fire, caused by an explosion of a fuel tanker traveling to DR Congo, damaged the electricity lines in the area, affecting the power transmission in the area. The project, completed by the West Nile Rural Electrification Company-WENRECO, included installing a new 315kva transformer for the One Stop Border Post (OSBP), servicing the community transformer at the trading center, extending the 1.5km MB line and LV line, installing poles, and conductors, among other tasks.
Wonaila explained during the project’s commissioning, “The community granted permission for the line to be extended to the area, and WENRECO was tasked with repairing the transformer for the community and restoring the LV line for the community.”
Martin Oriku, the project manager at WENRECO, expressed gratitude to URA for funding the project, noting that it would streamline the process of clearing trucks at the border. He encouraged residents to make the most of this newfound access to electricity. The local business community, including restaurants, bars, lodges, and salons, welcomed this development as it would enhance their operations.
Residents in the area are now requesting the government to provide free electricity connections, with a willingness to pay for the meters. Abok Kayombo, the LC I Chairman of Boma East, mentioned that the neighboring villages of Boma East A, Boma East B, and Boma East C have over 800 people who can benefit from electricity.
The demand for electricity connection was evident as more than four residents applied for it on Friday. In response to the request for free connections, both Judith Wangoic, the WENRECO Public Relations Officer, and Oriku explained that the government is planning an electricity scale-up project, which would enable mass connections. They encouraged the community to submit their requests in writing if they want earlier access to electricity and commended URA for its substantial contribution to restoring power at Goli customs.
This development follows an earlier appeal made by residents of Bomah East village in Goli customs, Jupangira sub-county, Nebbi district, in May. They urged URA to expedite the clearing process for fuel tankers heading to DR Congo to ensure safety. A recent incident involving a delayed fuel tanker catching fire heightened concerns among the community.
Sylvester Kiwanuka, the West Nile region URA manager, attributed occasional internet fluctuations as a cause of delays but assured that URA officials were diligently working to clear the trucks promptly.
URN.