Umeme, Uganda’s leading power distributor wants landlords to be compelled to have independent electricity meters while wiring their premises to stop alleged exploitation of tenants in power tariff payment.
The Umeme officials led by the Chief Operations Officer, Florence Nsubuga Nakimbugwe made the revelation while appearing before Parliament Committee scrutinizing the Landlord and Tenants Bill.
Umeme says using clause 12 of the Bill, it is possible to have a provision compelling Landlords to have independent meters for each shop or room while wiring the building to cater for Tenants easy payment of power without and suspicion that are being cheated by land lords.
The Landlord and Tenants Bill proposes that all charges in respect of use of electricity and similar services in respect of the tenant’s occupation of rented premises are separately metered.
The Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer at Umeme, Blessing Nshaho says arcades need to be rewired like the condominium units for each unit or room to have its own meter.
Bukoto Central MP, Eng. Richard Ssebamala, one of the Committee members said that when they meet the National Building Review Board, they will explore whether its possible for a landlord to provide a separate electricity meter to do away with the complaints of tenants that landlords are exploiting them through power bills.
