1. Home
  2. Stories
  3. Energy
  4. Nuclear Energy

Goverment defends new Atomic Energy Bill

Peter 12th Jun, 2024 Energy Pedson Mumbere
Goverment defends new Atomic Energy Bill

Energy Minister Nankabirwa makes her presentation as Kisolo, the Uganda Atomic Energy Council chairman, looks on


Environmental activists have put the Government on the defensive over the new Bill that it has drafted to replace the Atomic Energy Act of 2008.

At a consultative workshop in Kampala to discuss the new Atomic Energy Bill of 2024, environmental activists argued that Uganda lacks the capacity and preparedness to safely manage nuclear energy, citing potential environmental and safety risks.

However, Ruth Nankabirwa, the Energy and Mineral Resources minister, appeared to downplay the concerns, saying comprehensive measures are being taken to ensure Uganda's readiness.

  • "Our commitment to nuclear energy is grounded in rigorous planning and adherence to international safety standards," she asserted. "We have engaged with global experts and stakeholders to develop a robust framework that prioritizes the safety of our people and the environment."

Akisophel Kisolo, who chairs the Uganda Atomic Energy Council, added that the country is making significant progress towards utilizing nuclear energy.

"We are on course to have nuclear energy in Uganda," Kisolo stated confidently, while highlighting the ongoing efforts to establish the necessary infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and technical expertise to support the safe and effective use of nuclear power.

  • The new law provides for the expansion of the Uganda Atomic Energy Council from five to eight members and the establishment of the Uganda Nuclear Energy Company to manage the country’s commercial interests in the nuclear industry.

However, critics are not comfortable with some sections of the new law which appears to give the Minister too much power to appoint members, and the requirement that the Council must comply with all the minister’s directives at all times.

In March, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) facilitated at a high-level meeting in Kampala to discuss nuclear law and raise awareness about the relevant international legal instruments under IAEA auspices and to improve the coun-try’s legal framework in regard to nuclear safety, security, safeguards and liability.

Nankabirwa emphasized the critical need for nuclear energy in Uganda's energy mix, noting that it offers a reliable and sustainable solution to the country's growing electricity demands.

She also noted that Uganda's move towards nuclear energy aligns with global trends, where many countries are adopting nuclear power to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

  • However, nuclear energy faces challenges globally related to public perception and acceptance, including concerns about safety, environmental risks, and the legacy of past disasters involving nuclear power plants in highly developed countries.
  • The activists say that while nuclear energy offers potential benefits in terms of low-carbon electricity generation and energy security, policymakers must carefully weigh these benefits against the serious risks associated with nuclear power including radioactive waste that could contaminate soil, water, and air for very many years.

However, the Government has remained resolute in its determination to develop nuclear power for peaceful means, using its locally available uranium deposits.

The minister is set to set table the new Bill before Parliament for debate in the coming weeks.

Similar Posts You May Like 

  • Simba Telecom and d.light Partner to Distribute Solar Products in Uganda

    Simba Telecom and d.light Partner to Distribute Solar Products in Uganda..

    Simba Telecom Uganda, a leading telecommunications company, and d.light, a global leader in solar-powered solutions, have signed a partnership agreement to distribute solar solutions across Uganda. Under the partnership, Simba Telecom Uganda will expand its product offerings to include d.light's ..

  • Uganda targets $4 billion in green investment deals at COP28 in Dubai

    Uganda targets $4 billion in green investment deals at COP28 in Dubai..

    The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is participating in the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with an ambitious target of clinching four billion dollars in green investment deals...

  • Dubai COP28 endorses new declaration, but with no crude oil exit plan

    Dubai COP28 endorses new declaration, but with no crude oil exit plan..

    A new draft for the final declaration of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai does not include the clear phase-out of coal, oil and gas demanded by many countries...

  • Excitement as Nigeria's Dangote refinery starts production

    Excitement as Nigeria's Dangote refinery starts production..

    The Dangote Oil Refinery, the largest on the continent at 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), has begun producing diesel and aviation fuel, the company said on January 13. ..

  • PSFU, Dutch launch UGX14 bn renewable energy project

    PSFU, Dutch launch UGX14 bn renewable energy project..

    The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) in partnership with the Netherlands Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) have launched a renewable energy project worth 3.4 million Euros (about UGX14 billion), aimed at on increasing access to solar and clean cooking technologies in 13..

  • Relief as UNOC finally secures Kenyan oil import licence

    Relief as UNOC finally secures Kenyan oil import licence..

    The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) will effective next month start importing petroleum products through Kenya following the end of a bitter dispute between the two regional partners over direct oil imports through the Kenyan port of Mombasa...

  • Shell launches engine oil campaign for motorcycles

    Shell launches engine oil campaign for motorcycles..

    Shell Uganda has launched a new campaign to promote the use of Shell Advance AX5, a new premium quality 4-stroke motorcycle engine oil, which helps to clean and protect the engine by preventing the build-up of deposits and maintaining engine cleanliness. ..

  • Uganda getting set for 24,000 megawatts nuclear plant

    Uganda getting set for 24,000 megawatts nuclear plant ..

    Uganda's uranium exploration is gaining momentum to meet global energy demands, with plans for a 24,000MW nuclear power station by 2040, Irene Batebe, the permanent secretary for the ministry of Energy and Minerals Development, has said. ..

  • Dubai Businessman Maktoum awarded top national honour

    Dubai Businessman Maktoum awarded top national honour..

    President Yoweri Museveni has conferred the country’s top honour, the Order of the Crested Crane 1st Class Medal, upon Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Jumah Al Maktoum from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in recognition of his exceptional contribution to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation...

  • Spiro unveils UGX3.8 million electric motorcycle

    Spiro unveils UGX3.8 million electric motorcycle..

    Spiro, a leading electric motorbike manufacturer and clean energy provider in Africa, has launched its electric motorcycles on the Ugandan market. ..

  • Global electricity demand set to soar in 2024/2025

    Global electricity demand set to soar in 2024/2025 ..

    The world’s demand for electricity is rising at its fastest rate in years, driven by robust economic growth, intense heatwaves, and increasing uptake of technologies that run on electricity such as Electric vehicles and heat pumps. Despite the enduring impacts of the global energy crisis, growth i..

  • TotalEnergies acquires stake in Bujagali Power Dam

    TotalEnergies acquires stake in Bujagali Power Dam..

    French energy giant TotalEnergies has signed an agreement with Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company, to acquire 100% of its subsidiary, SN Power...

  • Uganda, Kenya moot petrol pipeline plan revival

    Uganda, Kenya moot petrol pipeline plan revival..

    Regional counterparts Uganda and Kenya are set to revive a long-standing plan to construct a pipeline that will enhance the transportation of fuel between the two countries. The project, initially proposed in 1995, aims to establish a pipeline from Eldoret in western Kenya to Kampala in Uganda, with..

  • West Nile gets first National Grid connection

    West Nile gets first National Grid connection..

    The recent inauguration of the Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua Transmission line by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni marks a pivotal moment for the West Nile sub-region. This 132KV power line, worth a total investment of USD100 million (UGX 370 billion), connects the region to the national power grid for the f..

  • UK unveils UGX24 billion clean cooking initiative

    UK unveils UGX24 billion clean cooking initiative..

    The United Kingdom has launched an initiative aimed at revolutionizing Uganda’s cooking practices as part of an ambitious effort to transition 65% of Uganda’s population to cleaner cooking methods by 2030. ..

  • Uganda, 15 countries set for electricity trade

    Uganda, 15 countries set for electricity trade ..

    The Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), an intergovernmental organization that was established to promote and coordinate the development of a regional power grid interconnection and cross-border electricity trade in Eastern Africa, is set to operationalize a competitive regional power market next year..

  • Optimism as 600MW Karuma Dam is commissioned

    Optimism as 600MW Karuma Dam is commissioned..

    The long-awaited 600MW Karuma Hydropower Dam has finally come online, raising hopes for a more industrialised and prosperous economy...

  • EU to spend EUR3.4 bn on renewable energy push

    EU to spend EUR3.4 bn on renewable energy push..

    The European Union (EU) has pledged EUR 150 billion (about UGX602 trillion) to support the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next 15 years, as part of its Global Gateway strategy...

  • Electric boda boda cutting air pollution levels

    Electric boda boda cutting air pollution levels..

    On any given day in Kampala City, the streets are clogged with traffic, the air thick with exhaust fumes. In 2022, Kampala was on the list of the most heavily polluted cities worldwide, with pollution levels frequently exceeding WHO guidelines. The health impacts of air pollution, largely attribute..

Most Recent

Popular Links