A group of Buyende District officials has requested that the government run public awareness efforts to address concerns and misconceptions about the proposed nuclear power facility in the region. The request comes amid mounting concerns and speculation about the project’s possible risks.
The Cabinet adopted the Nuclear Power Roadmap Development Strategy in April 2015, with the goal of establishing a 2,000MW nuclear power infrastructure to diversify Uganda’s energy generating mix. The decision was made in response to rising need for power for security and industry.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development nominated Buyende as one of the prospective sites for the power plant following a feasibility assessment in 2019. However, Buyende Woman Representative Mary Annet Nakato raised worry that current project operations are taking place without the impacted people’s awareness or participation.
Speculators disseminating tales about potential threats, according to Nakato, are forcing locals to sell their land, generating a sense of urgency to leave the region. The Buyende LCV Chairperson, Michael Kanaku, reiterated Nakato’s thoughts, highlighting the need of the government conducting public awareness campaigns to debunk disinformation and involve the affected populace.
Dr. Eng. Lammeck Kajubi, President and CEO of M/S Queensland & Leeds Consulting Engineers, refuted the charges, noting that the SEA process included stakeholder engagements and that points presented were included into the report.
The draft SEA report was presented in a validation conference attended by a variety of stakeholders, including energy specialists, representatives from Civil Society Organizations, Members of Parliament, and academics. The leaders underlined the necessity of public awareness and adequate recompense for people impacted by the project.
Emmanuel Wamala, the Ministry of Energy’s Assistant Commissioner for Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste, told the leaders that their concerns will be incorporated into the final report to guide future actions.
Uganda’s nuclear energy power plant is moving forward, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approving the project in December 2021. Uganda will join the likes of Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, and Nigeria in incorporating nuclear energy into their energy mix between 2030 and 2037.
