The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has issued a stern warning against electricity theft and public incitement to commit the crime, following the arrest of a TikTok user who openly encouraged illegal reconnections and tampering with electricity infrastructure.
Ibrahim Kasiita, who works with ERA’s Department of Corporate Planning and Consumer Affairs, said the authority has noted with concern increasing cases of electricity theft, as well as deliberate public incitement of such activities through social media platforms.
“Electricity theft is a crime. There is no justification for it. When someone steals electricity, treat it as though they are stealing money directly from your pocket, because at the end of the day, it is the consumer who pays the price,” Kasiita noted
He was addressing journalists at the weekly joint security briefing at the police headquarters, in Naguru, Nakawa Division, Kampala.
He revealed that on July 16, 2025, ERA received a report concerning a TikTok video posted on June 12, 2025, featuring a male individual who not only bragged about reconnecting previously disconnected power lines, commonly known as “solido” but also encouraged the public to do the same whenever disconnections occurred.
The suspect was identified as Sythen Brighton Kasule, a 27-year-old businessman and resident of Busega in Rubaga Division, Kampala.
In the video, Kasule reportedly incited members of the public to tamper with electricity infrastructure in defiance of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (UEDCL) disconnection efforts.
“That infrastructure belongs to the public. No one owns it apart from you, the citizens. So, when someone tampers with it, they are not just damaging property, they are putting lives at risk,” Kasiita stressed.
He said the Uganda Police Force, ERA, UEDCL, and other sector stakeholders strongly condemn such acts, which undermine safety, reliability, and the integrity of the national power grid.
“These actions compromise service delivery, pose electrocution hazards, and lead to massive financial losses across the entire electricity sector,” Kasiita added.
He emphasized that unauthorized reconnections, meter tampering, and illegal access to the power network are serious offenses under the Electricity Act.
Section 88 provides for up to 12 years’ imprisonment for illegal tampering with electricity infrastructure.
Section 90 prescribes up to 10 years’ imprisonment for electricity theft through illegal connections, in addition to a fine of up to 20 times the value of stolen electricity.
Unauthorized work on installations without a valid Installation Permit from ERA’s Installation Permit Committee is punishable by up to 2 years in prison.
He issued a particular warning against unlicensed technicians, commonly known as “kamyufus,” stating that anyone caught tampering with electricity systems without proper authorization will face prosecution.
Kasiita praised the Uganda Police Force for the swift arrest of the suspect, who is now in custody and assisting with ongoing investigations.
“We appreciate the police’s quick response. The case is still under interrogation, and once concluded, the suspect will be formally charged and presented in court,” he said.
ERA reaffirmed its commitment to working with UEDCL and law enforcement agencies to prosecute offenders and protect the integrity of Uganda’s electricity supply infrastructure.
