By: AmolatarPostNews | Reporter Apala
LIRA DISTRICT, UGANDA |Residents of Apala and the surrounding Ted-wii Trading Centre in Lira District are celebrating the restoration of electricity following the urgent replacement of a faulty power transformer, in an operation coordinated by the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) leadership.
The intervention was initiated after local community members, led by Steven Odongo, raised concerns over prolonged power outages and unstable electricity supply that had begun to disrupt businesses and livelihoods in the area. According to Odongo, the situation had escalated rapidly, threatening economic activities, especially for small-scale processors and traders who rely heavily on consistent power.
Responding promptly to the distress call, Col. (Rtd) Dr. Francis Ongia mobilized a technical field team tasked with addressing electricity infrastructure challenges. The team worked in coordination with the Lira office of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), successfully replacing the defective transformer within a short timeframe.
The restoration of power has brought immediate relief to the community. However, Odongo highlighted that the earlier power fluctuations had already caused damage to critical equipment, including a three-phase electricity meter used for a maize milling operation established in 2016. The malfunctioning meter is reportedly registering peak usage hours inaccurately-starting at 1:00 PM-resulting in significantly inflated electricity bills for the affected business.
Plans are now underway for the affected parties to formally apply for a replacement meter through UEDCL, with hopes that the issue will be resolved just as swiftly.
Community members have widely praised the rapid response and hands-on leadership demonstrated in resolving the crisis. Many believe that such proactive engagement between leaders and local communities is essential for accelerating socio-economic transformation in the Lango sub-region.
“This kind of timely action is exactly what our communities need,” Odongo noted. “If this spirit of responsiveness continues, we are confident that our region will achieve faster economic growth.”
The development underscores the importance of reliable electricity infrastructure in supporting rural enterprises and highlights how coordinated interventions can prevent prolonged economic disruption.
Local leaders and residents alike have expressed gratitude for the support received, emphasizing that access to stable electricity remains a cornerstone for development, especially in agro-processing hubs like Apala.