Frequent power outages at Makerere University are threatening the operations of small businesses within the campus, the business operators have said.

Photocopiers and printer operators have for the last three days been rendered idle as a result of power outage which sometimes goes on for over 10 hours.

For three consecutive days this week, the university has been experiencing unstable power supply which has affected students, staff and business operators. On Monday there was no power the better part of the day, while on Tuesday it was off from 8 am till late in the evening. On Wednesday, the university did not have power in the afternoon.

Many operators of photocopying machines were observed laying their heads onto their machines doing nothing and hoping power would come back. Others are seen converged outside their working premises ignoring their machines especially around Lumumba Hall.

Many of these machines are stationed in the corridors to target mostly students who come to photocopy their notes or assignments.

According to Rose Nakamya, who runs a machine at Lumumba Hall, the power issue has made her a loss of 30,000 shillings. She says she was unable to buy herself what to eat.

"The situation has been so tough for me. I have made a loss of 30,000 shillings and as I talk I have not yet had lunch," said Rose Nakamya.

Ritah Kansiime, who runs a photocopying machine on the ground floor of the Arts Building, expressed her concern over the transport costs she incurs at the end of the day she makes losses.

"I use my transport only to come here and find power off. By the end of the day you make no single coin. This is so disappointing," revealed Kansiime.

On Tuesday, Kyomuhendo Agnes, who deals in secretarial business at Nsibirwa Hall, cast a lonely figure in the corridor. "We count today as a loss," she commented. She added that she and her colleagues came as early as 7am but power went off at 8am.

Kamusime Josephine, a canteen attendant in the CHUSS, revealed that most businesses depend on power for survival. “If today they did not work what are they going to feed their families on," she asked. She added that she is also affected since she has drinks that go bad when not refrigerated.

Natume Jane, who operates near Mitchell Hall and owns a generator, says the charges have been hiked because the generator uses a lot of petrol which is expensive.

Running photocopying machines is one of the most lucrative businesses in Makerere University.

Students were seen stranded and opting for the outside university services since these people have been their rescue in typing their work, photocopying among others.  Namusoke Mary, a student in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), revealed: "We had no option but to take our work out since stationery shops in the university are not working and the few with generators have many people, so this has affected us.”

Mukisa Hussein, a Day student of Journalism was forced to hand in his coursework with the evening students all resulting from the power problem.

"My work was not printed in time. I ended up failing to meet the deadline. I instead handed it in with the evening class. I wonder whether it will be accepted," he said Mukisa.

Hanifa Biryamondi, in the same way was forced to go back to her residence in Kikoni after finding power off all around Makerere. She had her coursework printed in Kikoni, a suburb west of Makerere, on the day and time of handing in the work. She ended up failing to proofread her work and assumes it contains a lot of mistakes.

"I was forced to go back to Kikoni since power was off in campus. I did not get time to edit my work. I understand it has a lot of errors," claimed Biryamondi.