On 06th June, 2019, in regular electricity anti-theft inspections conducted by Rwanda Energy Group Limited (REG) in partnership with Rwanda Investigation Bureau and Rwanda National Police, two young men namely Nshimiyimana Jacques and Hitabatuma Daniel were arrested in Gakoni village, Nyabugogo cell, Kigali sector, Nyarugenge district accused of doing illegal electrical connections with two sub-standard poles and twisted cable.
Nshimiyimana was caught trying to connect Gakoni households electrical lines with sub-standardized materials.
The other suspect Hitabatuma is accused of collecting money from Gakoni residents promising them to give them electricity.
The suspects were revealed to the media on 06th June, 2019. Nshimiyimana denies that he was doing unlawful businesses and asks for forgiveness because he was mislead by another suspect called Nkurunziza who escaped security services. Nkurunziza worked as a manpower/casual worker to support REG technicians for a short time and was released after. Since his dismissal he continued to impersonate REG staff to connect households to the grid.
Mutsindashyaka Martin; REG Branch Manager in Nyarugenge while addressing the media said that these suspects will be brought to books of accounts for their crimes committed.
Mutsindashyaka condemned the act and called upon citizens to distance themselves from working with people that they don’t know.
He further said that those people connect them through stealing electricity and it hinders the development of the country.
“REG in partnership with security organs had taken measures to curb electricity theft across the country because the issue affects not only the company but also the country in general and affects the national development goals, these people were apprehended with the facilitation from the local population, we urge you to be very vigilant when working with people that you don’t know” disclosed Mutsindashyaka.
Since December, 2018 REG is conducting regular similar inspections to detect and leverage electricity theft to ensure that the suspects are caught and brought to justice.
Statistics show that Commercial electricity losses are still high with a percentage of around 6.5 of the electricity generated in the country and out of which a big percentage emanates from electricity theft.
Findings from last year revealed that electricity stolen was evaluated at around 1.9 billion Frw.
Theft of electricity is the criminal practice of stealing electrical power. It is a crime and is punishable by fines and/or incarceration.
Theft of electricity is punishable by the law N°52/2018 of 13/08/2018 modifying Law Nº21/2011 of 23/06/2011 governing electricity in Rwanda as modified to date.
