It is a dream for many to buy a plot of land, construct a house, and become a land lord. The entire process is vast, because with a house comes the need for access to water as well as Umeme.
While water is usually accessible via boreholes and village wells, as you wait on the providers to sort you out; the alternatives to electricity are not so easy to figure out. It is thus cheaper and easier to ask Umeme to connect you on the line.
Umeme has a standard procedure which they follow to connect your house. This is in 3 steps, which when fulfilled to success can guarantee a connection within a week.
1. Application and Registration
Go to the Umeme office nearest to your location and fill out an application form. You should carry along a copy of your national ID, passport, or driver’s license. This should be accompanied with a wiring certificate, and permission from the land owners where the power line will pass – if at all it will.
It is also here that you pay the inspection fees of UGX 41,300, to any of Umeme’s partner banks.
2. Inspection
Once you have paid up the inspection fees, and have presented the receipt to the offices, Umeme is required to visit the site for inspection within 2 working days. This is to find out how feasible it is to extend power to you, and whether it will be a no pole or pole service.
No pole means that you are near an electricity pole and you do not need to pay for one, while pole service means that you are required to pay for it.
3. Payment and Connection
Once the requirements are stipulated, you will have to make payment for the connection to be effected. No pole service connection fees are UGX 98,000 while pole service connection fees are UGX 326,000.
After making the payment, present your receipt to the Umeme offices, and a meter should be installed within 5 working days after the payment.