Alternative energy infrastructure for Uganda

Abstract

The study sought to examine Uganda’s power infrastructure and the country’s preparedness for nuclear power production as an alternative source. The study was guided by the following objectives; to examine the history of Uganda’s power production; generation/demand growth; to examine regulatory framework of Uganda’s power sector and its conduciveness on investments in the sector; and to assess Uganda’s infrastructure for nuclear energy as an alternative power source. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and it was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (V18) which was used to generate tabulations of frequencies, item means and standard deviations. The findings validate that there was a growing power production in the country as a result of several dams being commissioned. This also contributed to the increased generation of power so as to meet the high demand for power in the country. This implied that emphasis on exploiting other types of energy such as nuclear energy was paramount in enhancing power production and generation in the country. According to the findings on the regulatory framework of Uganda’s power sector and its conduciveness on investments in the sector, it was revealed that there were still gaps in the development of the required policies such as those for nuclear energy which undermined effective regulation of the sector and its consequent development. The findings established that Uganda’s infrastructure for nuclear energy as an alternative power source was still in its infancy stage and therefore countered several challenges in regard to training, costs and regulation. The recommends that measures should be put in place to conserve the current energy that is being produced and generated as away of promoting efficiency in the sector. Similarly, there should be formation Public Private Partnerships away of pooling resources to promote infrastructural development in the sector.