Kampala — LYANTONDE town has been left in the dark following an operation in which power distributors, Umeme, cut-off illegal electricity consumers.

Four maize mills, five dairy and cooling plants, three schools and several shops, lodges and residential houses in the outskirts of Lyantonde town were among the victims.

The Police barracks, as well as the building housing the office of the district internal security organisation, the Reserve Force and the deputy resident district commissioner, were among the facilities suspected to have been illegally connected to the power grid.

The building had power but had no metre, according to Oliver Magara, Umeme's customer verification officer.

"We shall not spare anyone involved in illegal power connections. I have instructed my people to disconnect power from the Police barracks," she said.

The Police arrested two men suspected to have been posing as Umeme officials.

Godfrey Kiwanuka and Baker Adda allegedly made the illegal power connections in Lyantonde.

The town council power line from Lyantonde to Kyabuza Primary School was also pulled down on grounds that it was illegal.

Magara said 72% of the power users in Masaka and Lyantonde were cheating Umeme through illegal power connections.

Similar operations were carried out in Kyotera, Kalisizo, Lukaya, Nyendo, Kidda, Kinoni and Kyazanga towns.

Over 50 people have been arrested in Masaka district over illegal power connections, Magara added.