Gulu City authorities are seeking Shs2.2 billion to repair more than 920 solar-powered street lights that have been vandalised or rendered non-functional, leaving large sections of the city in darkness and raising concerns about public safety. The solar-powered lighting systems were installed along major roads under the World Bank-funded Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme.
However, rampant theft of solar panels, batteries and other components has crippled the system, with city officials blaming organised criminal gangs operating within and outside the region. According to city authorities, at least 920 of the 2,600 solar-powered street lights installed since the 2016/2017 financial year are no longer functioning due to vandalism, battery depletion and technical faults. An assessment by the City Engineering Department indicates that only 1,680 street lights, representing 64.6 percent of the total installed, remain operational.
City Engineer Eng. Christo Omara Balmoyi said 620 street lights stopped working after their batteries reached the end of their lifespan, while 200 were vandalised and another 100 developed technical faults, including controller failures. ‘The city requires approximately Shs2.208 billion to restore all the non-functional solar street lights,’ Eng Balmoyi said. The repair of each damaged solar lighting unit costs about Shs1.3 million, according to city officials. Authorities say stolen components have been traced to several districts, including Agago, Apac and Lira, as well as parts of the West Nile sub-region during security operations targeting criminal networks.
The city has already commenced repairs on 91 damaged street lights at a cost of Shs120 million. However, officials say the current resources are insufficient to address the wider problem. Officials say lithium-ion batteries and solar panels have become attractive targets for thieves due to growing demand for solar energy equipment, particularly in areas not connected to the national electricity grid. A complete solar-powered street lighting unit costs between Shs7 million and Shs10 million on the open market.
Gulu City Town Clerk Innocent Ahimbisibwe said the city had formally requested financial support from the Ministry of Finance to undertake the restoration programme, dubbed ‘Gulu Shine’. ‘Public lighting is not an aesthetic luxury but a fundamental utility. It is security infrastructure, an enabler of extended trading hours and a visible signal of state presence and efficacy,’ he said.
He added that the project aligns with the objectives of the National Development Plan IV, which prioritises sustainable urbanisation and improved public infrastructure. The city plans to repair all the damaged street lights by June 2027 if the required funding is secured. To ensure sustainability, authorities are considering ring-fencing five percent of revenue collected from property rates and outdoor advertising to finance maintenance of the lighting system. The city is also planning to install anti-vandal cages to protect batteries and solar panels from theft, alongside community sensitisation campaigns aimed at discouraging vandalism of public infrastructure.
The push to restore the lighting system comes amid growing concerns over crime in Gulu City. Since the beginning of the year, violent crime has claimed at least three lives and led to the arrest of nearly 200 suspected criminals. On March 1, police arrested 101 suspects during an intelligence-led operation in the city centre.