The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) Soroti office has come under fire for allegedly failing to address a power outage affecting the Madera education and health complex for About three weeks, sparking outrage among school heads, health officials, and religious leaders in the area.
In a media address following failure by UEDCL to positively respond to their requests heads of institutions within the Madera complex expressed deep frustration over what they described as UEDCL’s “total inaction” since the failure of a key transformer on July 10, 2025.
The outage has left over 3,000 students and several patients at Madera Health Center II in complete darkness, crippling academic programs, vocational training, health service delivery, and religious activities in the area.
The institutions affected include: St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, St. Anne’s Primary School, St. Theresa Madera Boys Primary School, St. Francis Primary School for the Blind, St. Francis Secondary School for the Blind, St. Mary’s Girls Senior Secondary School, St. Kizito’s Technical Institute, St. Patrick’s Parish Madera, Eneku Village, and Madera Health Center II.
According to the leaders of the institutions, despite reporting the transformer failure to UEDCL Soroti office on July 10, no concrete action has been taken to restore power or provide a temporary alternative.
“UEDCL agents came only on July 11 and confirmed that the transformer had blown off, but since then, nothing has been done,” the letter reads in part. “Up to now, there is no sign of urgency or intervention from UEDCL.”
They say if no action by UEDCL, they will be forced to close schools early since the cost of running institutions using generators is becoming more costly.
Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Akiiso, the Formations Director at St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, expressed deep concern over the prolonged blackout, warning of its potential impact on students’ discipline and academic focus.
“Considering the fact that we have young people in our institutions whose behavior can be erratic in the face of long power outages, this status quo compromises their academic concentration,” Rev. Fr. Akiiso said.
He further cautioned that patients receiving treatment at Madera Health Center II were also in danger, as medical services had been severely disrupted due to lack of electricity.
Rev. Sr. Mary Salome Aguti, Headteacher of St. Mary’s Girls Madera, described the situation as “alarming” and accused UEDCL Soroti of neglect.
“My desperate attempts to personally engage UEDCL Soroti officials have yielded no results,” she lamented, adding that urgent intervention was needed to “arrest this worsening situation.”
This was also signed by Sr. Mary Goretti Aguti (Headteacher, St. Francis Secondary School for the Blind), Sr. Mary Alyabo (Headteacher, St. Francis Primary School for the Blind), Sr. Elizabeth Arionget (Headteacher, St. Anne’s Primary School), Mr. Joel Kayeme Opiro (Principal, St. Kizito’s Technical Institute), and Rev. Fr. Henry Agit (Parish Priest, St. Patrick’s Parish Madera).
When contacted for comment, efforts to speak to the UEDCL Soroti Area Manager proved futile as he was reportedly out of office.
A staff member at the reception told our reporter: “The manager is not around to speak to the media.”
However, another insider, who preferred anonymity, disclosed that the manager had gone for a “field assessment of other affected areas,” but could not confirm whether Madera Complex was part of his itinerary.
The petitioners are now calling on the RCC and other authorities to intervene and compel UEDCL to restore power.
“We, the undersigned Heads of Institutions in Madera Complex, petition your immediate attention to reverse this undesirable situation. We cannot allow our learners, patients, and community to continue suffering in this darkness,” the letter concludes.
The prolonged power outage has not only stalled academic programs but has also disrupted vocational training at St. Kizito’s Technical Institute, religious activities at St. Patrick’s Parish, and essential medical care at Madera Health Center II, heightening fears of a looming crisis if no immediate action is taken.
As of press time, UEDCL Soroti office had not issued an official statement addressing the complaints or outlining any plan for restoration of power.
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