Kole South Member of Parliament, Boniface Okot, has urged the government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, to urgently restore electricity for the people of Illera parish in Ayer sub-county, Kole district.

His appeal follows the blowing of a transformer that was supplying power three months ago, and to date, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has not taken any action regarding the matter.

Okot made this statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday following a letter he wrote directly to the Speaker of Parliament regarding the matter on October 8, 2026, which was received on October 12.

He claimed that since the incident occurred, the people of Illera parish have been living in total darkness for a period of three months, which has affected businesses, especially at night, and has also increased the number of criminals, door-breaking, and other vices.

Okot said that the affected trading centres include Te Obema, Corner Abic, Apala, Obutu, and Akoo, all of which are now shut down by 7:00 pm.

Due to this, businesses are collapsing, children are unable to access their books at night, and health facilities are also affected, where they are still struggling.

“My concern is why UEDCL has abandoned our people because we all need power,” he said.

MP Okot said that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development should fast-track the restoration of electricity in Illera parish, and further appeal to the government to consider electrification to ensure that all major trading centres in “greater Akalo, greater Bala, and greater Ayer are connected to anchor the industrialisation agenda.”

Approximately 43,000 households in Kole South remain unconnected to the national grid, placing the constituency far behind the national average in rural electrification coverage, according to the MP.

Okot revealed that Kole South lags significantly below the national standard, with only 2.3% of households currently having access to power—a figure he described as alarmingly low compared to other constituencies.

According to Okot, Kole South’s electrification rate is twenty times below the national average. He warned that at the current pace, it would take 196 years to connect the 43,000 households, assuming the population does not increase.

He appealed to the Minister of Energy to prioritise critical districts like Kole South, noting that the lack of electricity continues to cripple small enterprises such as salons and welding workshops, which are essential for local livelihoods.

Okot is the first NRM legislator to represent Kole South, having taken over from former UPC MP Peter Ocen in the recent general elections.

During his campaign, he pledged to lobby for expanded power connectivity in the area, with the aim of enabling young people to engage in productive work and move out of poverty once electricity reaches their communities.