Uganda: Cabinet Meets Over Energy Crisis

Text of report by Emmy Allio entitled “Cabinet meets over energy shortfall” published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 4 March

The cabinet yesterday afternoon convened an emergency meeting to address the serious energy crisis in the country. Information Minister Dr Nsaba Buturo said, “The meeting is basically about the energy crisis. This is one issue which affects our lives, everything and the economy.”

Referring to the loading-shedding and the situation of constant blackouts, Buturo said, “the government is determined to reverse the situation immediately.” Buturo said Energy Minister Syda Bbumba was scheduled to present a cabinet paper on the energy crisis.

“It is not a crisis meeting, but the issue on the table is very important.”

President Yoweri Museveni, who was scheduled to chair the meeting last Wednesday, told crowds that welcomed him to Kampala from his home in Rwakitura, that the government would urgently address the electricity shortage in the country.

When contacted shortly before the cabinet meeting, Bbumba said, “I am sorry, I am in a meeting” and hang up.

Recently, the government set up a task force headed by the minister of general duties, Prof Mondo Kagonyera, to increase the capacity of thermal power generation.

Because of the energy crisis, last month, the government waived taxes on fuel for industrialists to run heavy commercial generators.

The intervention followed the president’s statement on the acute power shortage in the country in which he explained measures the government was taking to address the crisis. There is no import duty on commercial generators used by industrialists.

The government also agreed to set up a credit scheme for solar energy subscribers. Currently, there is no taxes on solar equipment and to give financial support to enterprises acquiring solar equipment and generators in the 2006/2007 budget.

The president has also promised a 45 per cent subsidy to anyone installing a solar power system.