KARONGI – A week-long decision to cut power during the day in Karongi district has not gone well with the local population, most especially business people and workers of financial institutions.

The national power and water utility (RECO/RWASCO) switches off electricity supply to the district at 8 am. However it is only restored at 5 pm when most public offices are already closed.

Most people who talked to The New Times expressed disappointment and frustration, at the power cuts saying they are incurring heavy losses as a result.

"The unexpected expenditure on fuel to keep our generators running for a whole day is a very huge loss,” Richard Mugambage, the branch manager of teacher’s bank (Umwalimu Sacco) said.

Mugambage who claimed to spend over Rwf30,000 on fuel everyday, hoped for a quick and swift intervention to reverse what he termed as a dire situation.

When contacted, local representatives RECO/RWASCO apologized for the inconveniences caused by the power cut off, but explained that it was as result of ongoing construction works.

"Power shortage has been occasioned by the construction work on the optic fibre network but by tomorrow (Friday) it should all be over,” an official said.

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