Police in Butaleja District have launched investigations into a suspected electricity infrastructure vandalism racket following the theft of power cables in Bufujja Town Council.
According to police, the incident was reported on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at about 7:00 a.m., after residents alerted local leaders to vandalised electricity wires on power poles in Lubanga Cell.
Police said the Chairperson of Lubanga Cell received the information from community members and immediately reported the matter to Bufujja Police Station.
“The Officer in Charge of Bufujja Police Station sought the support of the K9 Unit, and a police sniffer dog was deployed to the scene,” police said in a statement.
The sniffer dog, K9 Vegas, picked up a human scent from the vandalised power lines and led officers to a semi-permanent house belonging to a suspect identified as Fred Esero, located about 500 metres from the scene.
However, the suspect was not found at the premises.
“A search conducted at the house led to the recovery of stolen cable wires and several other electronic items believed to be linked to the vandalism,” police said, adding that efforts to trace and arrest the suspect are ongoing.
Police noted that investigations are continuing to establish whether the suspect is part of a wider criminal network involved in electricity infrastructure vandalism in the district.
The incident comes amid repeated warnings from the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) over the rising cases of power vandalism, which the company says result in prolonged blackouts, financial losses, and serious safety risks to the public.
UEDCL has previously cautioned that vandalising electricity infrastructure not only disrupts power supply but also endangers lives and undermines national development, urging members of the public to report suspected vandals to security agencies.
