In an effort to promote the energy and mineral sector sustainable growth, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has organized a one week Energy and Mineral Exhibition that will commence on November 13, 2023 and end on 18th at Akamwensi Shopping Mall , Kyebando Kawempe Division.
The Energy and Mineral week according to the line minister Nankabirwa, will feature several activities such as, Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility Conference 2023 which will take place between 14th and 15th November, 2023. The Power Forum also to take place on 15th November and the Renewable Energy Conference and Expo.
While addressing Journalist at Uganda Media Center in Kampala, Nankabirwa said that vandalism on Karuma-Kawanda line has delayed the commissioning of Karuma Power Dan so as to become operational and this has negatively impacted on power supply in the country.
She however said that a stringent bill is in offing and once enacted into law will help deter such vandalism acts and government revenue as well as lives of people will be saved.
The bill which is yet to be tabled before Parliament for discussion, has stringent punishments for instance if a who is caught vandalizing on the equipment once convicted will be sentenced to 15 years in jail or pay 50,000 currency and each currency is equivalent to Ushs 20,000.
“ We are working on the policy, legal and regulatory frame work that will help deter acts of vandalism on electricity transmission equipment and also reduce on behavior by consumers tempering on the miters so as to evade paying for power consumed.’’ Nankabirwa said.
She further said that government has already procured the services of a contractor who will soon start installing back the vandalized equipment on the line of Karuma-Kawanda but she didn’t specify the time lag.
The minister also said despite the campaign by government to encourage people use gas and electricity in cooking activities, very few people are using gas as an alternative source of fuel to charcoal and firewood and she attributed this to mindset and stigma aspects which she said that her ministry will embark on vigorous sensitization of the masses so as to change their mindset.
“ We shall dialogue with government officials in energy and mineral sector and find on how best we can create jobs, encourage people embrace the sustainable clean cooking stoves as well as creating affordable power consumption for both domestic and industrial use.’’
Government is targeting to increase the generation of power up to 52,000 MW by 2040, currently a total of only 1,678.1 MW are produced and 1,562.2 MW are being supplied on the main grid, 13.98MW is off grid while only 102.5 MW is from solar.
Uganda’s electricity access rate is currently standing at 58% where only 20% is on-grid and has a total household connection of only 1,978,356 and government target for every household to access electricity at least by 2030.
By George Bukenya