Enkyuka

kyuka eyakole

ddwa mu ntambula ya bbaasi ereese obwezi

goolo mu basaabaze

By Eria Luyimbazi

Added 13th December 2016



Abamu ku basaabaze nga balwanira bbaasi


EKIRAGIRO ky’okusengula bbaasi ezimu okuva mu paaka ya Qualicel ey’omugagga Drake Lubega ereetedde abasaabaze abamu okubuzibwabuzibwa ne babulako entambula okugenda gye balaga.

 Kino kyadiridde  akakiiko akavunanyizibwa ku by’entambula

 n’okuwa bbaasi layisinsi Transport Licensing Board (TLB)  okuyisa ekiragiro egiggya bbaasi ezikwata mu bugwanjuba

 n’obukikakono mu paaka ya Qualicell  ne balekamu ezidda mu buvanjuba.

Embeera eno ereetedde paaka ya Qualicell okusigalamu kampuni za bbaasi nnya zokka okuli YY Coaches, Gateway, Kampala Hopper, Teso Coach  ne Kakise  okuba nga zezitikiramu

 abasaabaze ng’endala zalagiddwa okugenda mu paaka ya Namayiba ne Kisenyi Bus Terminal.

Nathan Ssemujju  akolera mu kkampuni ya YY agambye nti ekiragiro kino kikosezza nnyo abali mu mulimu gw’okusaabaza abantu mu mu kiseera kino bangi bakonkomalidde mu paaka tebalina mmotoka zibatwala kuba ezisinga zigyiddwa mu paaka.

“ Ekiragiro ekyayisiddwa  nga kiggya bbaasi ezemu mu paaka ya Qualicell kitumenya kuba kati paaka nkalu nga temuli mmotoka zitwala basaabaze era eziriwo bali mu kuzirwanira tusaba abaakiyisizza bakikyuseemu” Ssemujju bwe bwategeezezza.

Agambye nti mu paaka ya Qualicell musigaddemu baasi 32 zokka songa luli mubaddemu ezisoba mu 150 nga abasAabaze bali mu kutataganyizibwa

  ekisusse nga kyetagisa okukomyawo baasi ezimu.




The Negligence of African

Public Transport


Abantu abatambuze bamanyi okwetegekera engendo nebiseera nga bino(timetable) ebirina ne map ezilaga obulungi wa gyogenda.


Kikukakatako gwe atambuza abantu okuba nga wetegese okubata

mbuza obulungi ate mubwangu mumagezi go. Kyebava bakusasula sente zaabwe.


Ensi nyingi ebyokuta

mbuza abantu mubibuga nemiriraano nga bino ebisolo ebitwalibwa mu Lufula woka awo babivaako dda nyo nga Ssematalo owokubiri akomye.


Busiru! Ova Luzira ogenda Mbale ate nogenda e Kampala gyoba ozikwatira? Ogenda Masaka ate nga osula Nsangi, nogenda e Kampala gyoba okwatira bbaasi ezinakutuusa e Masaka. Ogenda Arua ku ssawa 11 ezolweggulo kulwokutaano nga osula Nakawa osanidde kugenda wa okukwata baasi otuuke e West Nile?

The African country of Uganda seems to have lots of modern energy but does not know what to do with it:

The country has no viable modern public transport where most countries have mass transportation by electric trains:

The Cabinet is only considering cutting domestic power tariffs to increase the use of electricity in African communities: 

 

 Umeme says government needs to look at

Umeme says government needs to look at long-term solutions such as subsidies or ensuring massive consumption instead of knee-jerk solutions. FILE PHOTO

 

By Christine Kasemiire

UGANDA, Kampala- Cabinet is discussing ways through which it can lower power tariffs to five US cents per kilowatt for small scale industries engaged in value addition.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of new Umeme offices in Kiboga District, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, the government chief whip, said Cabinet is considering a uniform tariff for both extra-large industries and small scale industries in value addition.

“We had reduced the tariff for only big industries but when we discussed the budget framework paper recently, we took a decision to take on every industry in value addition to enjoy the new tariff which will be five US cents,” she said.

The discussion, she said, came after consistent pleas from small scale manufacturers to reduce power tariff, saying it is a major deterrent to industrialisation.

However, Mr Selestino Babungi, the Umeme managing director, said for government to reduce tariffs to five US cents, power consumption would need to be enlarged.

“You cannot just knee jerk around and say you want five US cents. You need to sell this power massively to be able to spread the cost around,” he said, adding that government would as an alternative need to offer subsidies to enlarge consumption.

Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) last year reduced power tariffs for extra-large industries to five US cents per kilowatt hour after renegotiating the Bujagali debt refinancing.

The average monthly capacity payments to Bujagali Energy Limited, the contractor in charge of the dam, reduced from $13m (Shs48.5b) to $10m (Shs37.3b).

The move was well received by manufacturers who said if implemented, it will encourage production thus boosting the exports market.

“Five US cents is competitive because it takes into consideration the inefficiencies we have as a country. This will spur more productivity,” Mr Daniel Birungi, the Uganda Manufacturers Association executive director, said.

According ERA, the average cost of power at which generating companies sell to government is eight US cents.

Already, government has put in place strategies such as the free electricity connection policy, which are envisaged to add over 300,000 customers annually and three million in 10 years.

The policy seeks to reach a 60 per cent electricity access rate by 2027.

In 2018, Umeme connected more than 130,000 new customers consuming power worth Shs9b with the help of donor funded projects such as the output-based aid, which mainly focuses on free electricity connection for customers.

The increasing power connections have in the process created new opportunities with Umeme requiring more than 400 technicians ahead to manage the current demand as well as preparing for those ahead.

Additional power

With Uganda hoping to launch a number of dams such as Karuma and Isimba this year, according to Mr Babungi, there could be a possibility of lowering tariffs as more power will be evacuated to the national grid.

However, demand for power, which is currently at 10 per cent, will need to increase through industrialization.

A new 132KV transmission substation was commissioned last year with two generators with combined capacity of 80MVA to supply Hoima and Kiboga among others.

However, Hoima’s power demand is only 8 megawatts consuming only 10 per cent of the power transmitted in the region. Mr Babungi said there is need to increase industrial usage to consume surplus power across Uganda.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

 

 

 

 

 

MODERN ENERGY SENSE IN THE TROPICAL COUNTRIES

Greedy energy Money Lenders are setting conditions to refinance Bujagali dam as if Uganda does not have Solar energy to exploit!

 

 The phase 1 construction of Bujagali hydro-electric dam

03 September, 2017
By Nelson Wesonga

The government has run into headwinds in its move to refinance Bujagali hydropower plant.

Prospective lenders want to address five issues for them to refinance the hydropower plant.

In the first quarter of this year, the government engaged the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to restructure and refinance Bujagali Bujagali hydropower plant’s loans.

One, they want Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL), the operator of the plant, exempted from corporation tax for the next 15 years.

The government had granted the operator a five-year waiver, starting this financial year.

Two, the government should agree to including in Bujagali’s total engineering, procurement and construction costs the $83 million (Shs295 billion) the company reportedly incurred due to Uganda Shilling/United States dollar exchange rate fluctuations. The Auditor General had disallowed this.

Three, they want assurances that Uganda will sell its excess energy and use the money to clear the refinancing costs.

Four, given different government officials’ statements about end-user tariffs, the lenders would like to be assured of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA’s) independence. ERA sets the end-user tariffs, which it does after computing the generation, transmission and distribution bodies’ reasonable costs.

Five, the lenders are concerned with the government’s adherence to the Kalagala Offset pact.

Why refinance Bujagali?

President Museveni has repeatedly attributed Uganda’s ‘high’ end-user power tariffs to the cost of power produced by Bujagali Energy Limited, which is currently at US dollar cents 12 (Shs426) per unit, while the power generated by Eskom goes for just one dollar cent (Shs35.6).

Bujagali alone generates up to 46 per cent of the electricity on the national grid, with the rest generated by up to 10 plants. The sheer enormity of the power contributed by Bujagali means that the average rate is pushed up.

Bujagali’s power is expensive because the company has up to the year 2032 to repay the international financiers which financed the dam’s construction.

The financiers include International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappig voor Ontwikkelinsslanden N.V. (FMO), Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco)/ Agence Française de Développement (AFD), DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) and kreditanstalt für wiederaufbau (KfW).

Barclays/ABSA Capital and Standard Chartered Bank provided the commercial debt under an International Development Association (IDA) Partial Risk Guarantee.

BEL has to pay a weighted average interest rate of six per cent for the debt equity used to build the plant. The power generator’s tariff also factors in the return on equity, which is at 19 per cent.

Uganda could choose to use more of Eskom’s electricity to avoid BEL’s expensive power, it can be argued. But that would not solve the problem because Uganda has to pay BEL a capacity charge.

That is, regardless of whether or not the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) takes up BEL’s power, it has to pay BEL lest the company turns off supply – and sue for breach of agreement.

To get around this complex problem, President Museveni has supported the refinancing of Bujagali.

One measure to lower the tariff would be to exempt BEL from paying corporation tax.

The company, which has not been paying corporation tax since its commissioning in 2012, was, from the start of this financial year, supposed to start paying the tax. 

But Parliament in May passed an Income Tax Amendment Bill which provided for the waiver.

The government will, therefore, forfeit Shs80 billion in corporation tax from BEL over the next five years. The waiver, though, will ensure the power generator’s tariff does not increase from US dollars 12 cents (Shs426) in 2017 to US¢13/ Shs468 in 2018, and dollar cents 15 (Shs533) in 2022.

Minister speaks

Finance minister Matia Kasaija told Saturday Monitor on Wednesday that the new lenders requested for a tax holiday. He said the government is considering a corporation tax holiday for BEL, and that it could take effect as early as October.

Mr Kasaija added that the other “sticking issue” he is aware of is capital gains tax.

Though he did not mention it, it is probable he was speaking of Sithe Global Power LLC affiliate SG Bujagali Holdings Limited (SGBH’s) plan to sell its 49, 750 shares in BEL to Norwegian company SN Power AS.

To that end, BEL said in April 2016 that SGBH and SN Power AS had met President Museveni to inform him of the deal.

Section 11 of BEL’s licence requires BEL to first seek ERA’s approval to transfer shares.

Should the SN Power AS apply to ERA to sanction the transfer of shares, and the latter sanctions it, then SGBH would have to pay capital gains tax.

“We are trying to find out who [between the Uganda Revenue Authority and the lenders] is right,” Mr Kasaija said.

He said the government would go with the right position on the matter of capital gains tax.

The government hopes to have concluded the refinancing arrangements by October this year.

But unless the President takes a political decision, both parties have to wait until May when Parliament will once again pronounce itself on next fiscal year’s tax policies.

There is a thinking that the same way Parliament agreed to a waiver of corporation income tax, it could also vote to reinstate it.

 

Is the demand enough?

In case it reinstates in 2021, BEL’s generation tariff would increase to, according to the government’s projections, 15 US dollars cents (Shs533) in 2022. Such increases would mean more complaints by the government about BEL’s tariff.

The prospective lenders might not want to be blamed for something they could have avoided by asking for a 15-year waiver.

As to the $83 million, the prospective refinancers want the government to unequivocally pronounce itself on the matter.

An Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the prospective refinancers are annoyed that the issue is taking long to be resolved.

Should the government go by the Auditor General’s advice to, the issue could be up for arbitration, a ‘route’ the Attorney General’s Chambers would not want to take.

About the demand for power, the government says there are many projects that will consume the excess energy.

In the government’s projections, Osukuru phosphates project in Tororo District will take 200MW, the Standard Gauge Railway will consume 300MW and Namanve Industrial Park will take up 107MW.

Other projects that the government anticipates will need a lot of power include Mukono Industrial Park (90MW), Luzira Industrial Park (60MW), Iganga Industrial Park (43MW) and rural electrification which is expected to require 130MW. 

Urban growth centres are also anticipated to require an additional 50MW, power trade will take up 250MW, while the mining sector will consume 300MW and other users will need 100MW.

That is a total of 1, 630MW in anticipated new demand for power, which when added to the current installed generation capacity totals 2, 400MW.

But the lenders are apprehensive, saying there are no feasibility studies that show the these projects listed will indeed consume as much.

According to Uganda’s major electricity distribution company Umeme, domestic demand will close this year at 795MW, up from 541.39MW the previous year.

Umeme projects that in 2018, the demand will be 877MW, 1, 065MW (2019), 1,193MW (2020) and 1, 364MW in 2021.

It does not help matters that Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, which Uganda could realistically have sold its power to, are also undertaking very large power generation projects.

That leaves countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda as the possible markets. But these two, going by the current figures, import far less power from Uganda than Kenya.

And even if all the excess capacity were to be sold, with the commercial production date for crude oil unknown, Uganda will have to use the money from the Karuma and Isimba power plants to repay the $2 billion (Shs7.1 trillion) loan it got from China’s Export Import Bank to build the two power plants.

That will leave less for refinancing Bujagali, whose new lenders would also have to be repaid within 15 years.

 

Is ERA independent?

In regard to the independence of the regulator, it does not help matters that the President now and then talks about lowering the end-user tariffs. On this cue, many Cabinet ministers, too, call for the lowering of tariffs.

The lenders fear that with time the pressure could make the regulator cave in.

They are perhaps justified in their fear. In November 2003, for instance, the then Energy minister Syda Bbumba vetoed plans to increase the end-user power tariffs for domestic consumers from Shs170 to Shs195 per unit.

Her decision came on the heels of an application of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), which was at the time headed by Ms Irene Muloni, to increase the tariff to cover losses UEDCL had incurred. Ms Muloni is now Energy minister.

Ms Bbumba reasoned then that ERA had not consulted the government.

Three years later, when the regulatory authority was slated to review power tariffs, President Museveni cautioned the authority. 

Mr Museveni said then that “announcements of this kind should be politically managed”.

Investors want certainty when it comes to recouping their investment. Lenders would even lend at a lower interest rate where they are sure the borrower will repay the loan in the given time.

Regarding the Kalagala Offset pact, the government committed to protect the natural habitat and environmental and spiritual values ecosystem of Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Kalagala Central Forest Reserve and Nile Bank Central Forest Reserve.

In return, according to the Kalagala Offset Sustainable Management Plan (2010 – 2019), the IDA/World Bank committed to be a guarantor to Uganda under the “IDA Guarantee Facility Agreement’ between Bujagali Energy Limited and financing institutions (“IDA Guarantee lenders”) and ABSA Bank Limited as the Agent for the IDA Guarantee Lenders amounting to $115 million (Shs409 billion) to support a portion of the financing of the Bujagali project.

Uganda agreed to set aside the Kalagala Falls site to protect its natural habitat and environmental and spiritual values in conformity with sound social and environmental standards.

It also agreed to carry out tourism development activities at the site in conformity with sound social and environmental standards.

Uganda committed not to develop power generation projects that could adversely affect the ability to maintain the Kalagala Falls.

With the construction of Isimba hydropower projects, this has been compromised.

During an interview with this newspaper in August 2015, Mr James Baanabe, the commissioner of Energy Resources at the ministry of Energy, said some forest area would be affected with trees submerged, “but those ones we can plant elsewhere”. This has yet to happen.

It is still not definitively clear whether the government will go through with refinancing Bujagali. In the alternative, BEL could be left to operate the 250–megawatt hydropower plant for 25 more years until 2042, after which it will surrender it to the government for a nominal $1.

Some argue that the government should wait for the natural termination in 2042, saying refinancing the plant would scare away potential investors the government would want to attract to Uganda.

Why you should care:

Bujagali hydropower plant generates 46 per cent of the power on the national grid.

Regardless of how the move to refinance Bujagali pans out, Ugandans will, through end–user electricity tariffs, have to pay for transaction/ brokerage fees, which, according to one account, are at $60 million (Shs213 billion)

Shs213 billion is 12 per cent of BEL’s ($470 million/Shs1.6 trillion) outstanding debt

$902 million – the amount, according to BEL, spent to construct the hydropower plant.

 

 

 

 

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COLLECTING CLEAN WATER IN UGANDA

Posted on 21st May, 2021

Increasing access to safe, clean water and improved sanitation remain priority:

This is the old colonial water pumping station on Lake Nalubaale(Victoria)

The availability of adequate water resources is a critical catalyst in hydro-power development, agricultural production and productivity, livestock, fisheries, health, industrial development...

And then there is the treatment of sewerage all over the world which Uganda seems to have given up.

 

The meaning being: Sewerage is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff (stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, and screening chambers of the combined sewer or sanitary sewer.

 

Introduction

Water and Environment is a key sector of the economy because it provides a cushion to all other sectors by way of providing nearly all inputs in the production processes and human living.  Human livelihood entirely depends on the water and environment sector.

The availability of adequate water resources is a critical catalyst in hydro-power development, agricultural production and productivity, livestock, fisheries, health, industrial development, tourism development and mitigation of climate and climate change effects. 

A healthy, clean and productive environment is essential in boosting wealth creation for social transformation and sustainable development because it reflects the balance between the demand and supply of natural resources on one hand and the absorption and supply of waste products on the other hand in the development process.

 

Residents of Nabukalu Sub-county on January 28 fetching water from the Shs2b solar-piped water plant, which was constructed by National Water and Sewerage Corporation.

 

Sector achievements 

Rural and small towns water supply

Our target was to increase access to clean and safe water from the 65 per cent to 79 per cent in rural areas and from 77 per cent to 100 per cent in urban areas by 2021. Currently, the rural water coverage is estimated at 69 per cent, while the urban water coverage stands at 79.1 per cent. 

A total of 38,517 villages representing 66 per cent out of the total 57,974 villages in the country have been served with clean water. So far, 35 districts have their water coverage above 80 per cent. The sector has managed to construct 132,341 domestic water points countrywide of which 41,112 (deep boreholes), 21,590 (shallow wells), 29,097 (protected spring), 20,306 (PSP/taps) and 20,236 (rain water harvesting tanks) serving 27, 797,316 people. 

The manifesto pledged an annual target of drilling 5,000 boreholes in five years at a rate of 1,000 boreholes per year and fitted with hand pumps based on their yield. To date, the sector managed to drill 846 boreholes per year translating into 84.6 per cent performance.  These boreholes have helped serve an extra 253,800 people. 

 

Gravity flow schemes designs have been completed and construction underway in some towns as follows:

  • Water Schemes completed: Nyarwodho GFS-Phase II in Nebbi District, Bududa-Nabweya GFS Phase II in Bududa District, Bukwo GFS Phase II in Bukwo District Phase II,Rwebisengo Kanara GFS in Ntoroko District. 
  • Ongoing construction: Lirima – Phase II (Manafwa) at 93.8%: Bukedea (Sironko, Kween, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli) at 98%, and Orom (Kitgum) at 44%, 
  • Completed design and feasibility: Bwambara- Bugangari (Rukungiri); Nyamugasani (Kasese); Ngoma–Wakyato (Nakaseke); Ogili (Agago); Potika (Lamwo). 

It was further pledged to rehabilitate and expand four gravity flow schemes. Construction of three out of four water supply schemes is progressing at Nybuhikye and Kikyenkye (Ibanda) at 64%, Shuuku and Masyoro (Sheema) at 93% and Lukalu-Kabasanda (Butambala) at 59%. Construction of Bitysa water supply scheme in Buhweju District commenced recently.

The target to construct 19 water supply systems in selected towns was completed and surpassed. So far 36 schemes were constructed and are benefiting 547,670 people in 40 towns.

On a pledge to construct 10 new town piped water systems, seven new towns in Kasagama, Kinuuka, Namagera, Nyahuka, Iziru, Busede-Bugobya and Kaperabyong, Kayunga including Kamuli FSM were completed. Four new towns of Mpara Nakasongola, Nakapiripirit and Kyamuhunga are under design phase.

The pledge to design and construct 33 piped water supply systems is at various levels implementation. For example, construction of six water supply schemes was completed in Bulegeni, Kacheri-Lokona, Bugobya, Bulambuli, Namayingo, and Olilim. Those on going include five towns of Kagadi (70%), Nazigo (20%), Kasanda (18%), and Ofua (60%), 13 towns have been designed to completion, six towns are still under design, and three towns not yet designed in Mukura, Baale and Wobulenzi. 

Sanitation

The national average sanitation coverage in rural areas has increased from 77 per cent to 79 per cent. While sanitation in urban areas has increased to 87.4 per cent with five faecal sludge management plants are constructed in Pallisa, Apac Kiboga Nakasongola, and Kamuli while 101 public water borne toilets have been constructed and four cesspool emptiers procured.  

The NWSC increased sewerage connections to 23,796. The total sewer network is 670kms countrywide representing 30 per cent.

 

Moyo local leaders and officials from Water and Environment ministry carry a pipe during a ground-breaking ceremony of Moyo Town Council Water Supply and Sanitation project on 14 January,2021.

 

Large towns water supply

NWSC installed a total of 12,028 Public Stand Pipes (PSPs) serving 9,909 villages and benefiting an estimated 10.6 million people. The expansion of pipe water main network system aiming at serving all Ugandans with water has since increased from 9,960 km to 19,268Km while the total number of new connections effected in various areas during the manifesto period stands at 222,091. The total customer base covering industrial/institutions/commercial customer increased from 472,193 to 711,556 connections to date.

With respect to Presidential Guidelines and Directives, NWSC has extended water in the constructed industrial parks to improve water supply and avail sufficient water for future developments as follows:

Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park is under the management of NWSC Seeta Branch, Luzira Industrial and Business Park receives water supply from the NWSC Mutungo tank, Kasese Industrial and Business Park, the NWSC provided a pipe along the lower boundary of the park and the existing project has been connected and provided with water supply while Soroti Industrial and Business Park has been initially connected,  

Those not yet connected are Kashari Agricultural Land in Mbarara, Mbale Industrial and Business Park Sewerage Services for the Industrial Parks. Preliminary construction process still underway at Kapeeka Industrial and Business Park: NWSC in the process of designing a water supply system expansion project for Karamoja Industrial and Business Park. 

The rehabilitation and expansion of water systems in selected large towns under NWSC is as follows:

  1. Bushenyi Project was substantially completed and the water supply systems is under operation providing an additional 3,150,000 litres of water per day.
  2. Arua Project was substantially completed and the water supply system is in operation. Plant capacity was upgraded from 3,500,000 litres per day to 12,000,000 per day, and an extra ground water system of 4,500,000 litres per day was developed serving over 309,000 people.
  3. Gulu Project. Works for Karuma intake completed. Rehabilitation of the water treatment plant was substantially completed. It involved upgrading and expansion of the existing water treatment plant from 4,000,000 litres per day to 10,000,000 litres of water per day.
  4. Mbale Project.  Involves construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Mbale Municipality. Procurement is ongoing.
  5. Kapeeka Water Supply: Upgraded Kapeeka industrial Water Supply to 2,500,000 litres per day. Phases 2 that entails extra 5,000,000 litres per day is ongoing.
  6. Kampala Sanitation Project: Completed Bugolobi Waste Water Treatment Plant of capacity 45,000,000 litres per day; rehabilitation and expansion of Nakivubo and Kinawataka sewers (29 km) project; Kinawataka pre-treatment plant and pumping stations of capacity 9,000,000 litres per day.
  7. Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project: Upgraded and rehabilitated Ggaba water treatment complex including a water storage reservoir of 8 million litres at Namasuba and laying of 9.6 km Ggaba-Namasuba pipe line, Construction of a water treatment plant at Katosi East of Kampala of 160,000,000 litres per day is ongoing at 60% complete and transmission main from Katosi of 56 kms at 85% complete.
  8. Kapchorwa Water Supply Project:  Completed new water works with capacity of 3,000,000 litres per day and 4,000-metre delivery main.
  9. Fort Portal Water production Improvement project:  Increased water production by 2,500,000 litres per day.
  10. Sembabule Water Supply Project:  The project works aim at increasing water production from 300,000 litres per day to 3,000,000 litres per day. Project works have commenced.
  11. Package sewer treatment plants at Fort portal and Kisoro: The project involved design, supply, installation and operation of sewage treatment plants for both towns, and was completed.
  12. Masindi/Hoima Albertine Graben Cluster Feasibility and Pre-design was completed. However, funds for the project are not yet secured.
  13. Mbarara Masaka South Western Cluster: The project aims at upgrading, expanding and developing water and sanitation infrastructure in Masaka, Mbarara and Isingiro, and the neighbouring towns. Procurement of works contract for Isingiro and Mbarara is ongoing, while Masaka project component is undergoing detailed design. The project is expected to serve over 1,000,000 people.

Water for production  

The emphasis is on construction of large and small scale water schemes for irrigation, livestock and rural   industries. 

Overall the manifesto target is to realize a cumulative storage capacity of 55 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) by 2021. The current cumulative storage for water for production stands at 41.124 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) translating into 71.5% of the above projected manifesto target. The irrigation area stands at 19,138ha against the irrigation potential estimated at 3.03m Ha. In line with the above, the sector has managed to achieve the following:

i.    Completed construction of 70 Small scale Irrigation systems in districts of Pallisa, Bukedea, Katakwi, Tororo, Kamuli, Bugiri, Soroti, Abim, Kaabong and Mayuge Soroti, Abim, Napak, Kaabong, Iganga, Pallisa, Mayuge, Kamuli, Bukedea, Tororo, Katakwi, Amuria, Ngora, Manafwa, Kibuku, Bugiri, Nwoya, Zombo, Lira, Pakwach, Gulu, Omoro, Alebtong, Oyam, Arua, Nwoya, Adjumani, Dokolo, Rukiga, Isingiro, Lyantonde, Mukono, Kiboga, Masaka, Kabarole, Butambala, Gomba, Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Kyankwanzi, Mityana, Ntungamo, Kalungu, Kagadi, Kisoro, Wakiso, Kamwenge, Kabarole, Kyegegwa and Kasanda. 

ii.    The sector completed reconstruction of Mabira dam in Mbarara District with total storage capacity of 1,443,959 cubic meters.

iii.    The sector is constructing six medium scale irrigation schemes with a total of 3,976 hectares. These include, Rwengaaju in Kabarole District standing at 70%, Tochi (500ha) in Oyam District standing at 86% completion level, Mubuku-II (480ha) in Kasese District stands at 63%, Doho-II (1,178ha) in Butaleja District is at 80.5%, Ngenge (880ha) in Kween District is 87.5% and Wadelai (1,000ha) in Pakwach district estimated at 53% completion level.

iv.    The construction of 70 Small Scale Irrigation schemes is ongoing in the Districts of Bukwo (1), Kaberamaido (1), Serere (1), Napak (1), Busia (1), Mbale (2), Kaabong (1), Kapchwora (3), Amuria (1), Kayunga (1), Budaka (1), Butebo (1), Soroti (1), Kumi (1), Bukedea (1), Kapelbyong (1), Agago (2), Oyam (1), Nakaseke (1), Pader (3), Omoro (4), Gulu (3), Amolatar (1), Apac (2), Kole (3), Kwania (2), Lira (2), Alebtong (1), Arua (2), Koboko (1), Maracha (1), Moyo (1), Nebbi (1), Yumbe (1), Koboko (1), Ibanda (1), Rukungiri (1), Buhweju (1), Isingiro (1), Rukungiri (1), Kanungu (1), Kyankwanzi (1), Buvuma (1), Hoima (1), Kibaale (1), Kalangala (1), Mpigi (1), Rakai (1), Butambala (1), Kasanda (2), Ntungamo (1), Lyantonde (1), Kyenjojo (1) and Lwengo (1).

v.    With regard to feasibility studies and detailed design, the sector completed Kabuyanda (3,300 hectares) irrigation scheme in Isingiro District, Kyenshama earth dam in Mbarara District and Geregere earth dam in Agago District. 

vi.    Government is also undertaking  feasibility studies and detailed designs of medium and large scale irrigation schemes in the following areas; Lopei (5,000 hectares) in Napak, Namalu (2,200 hectares) in Nakapiripirit, Sipi (500 hectares) in Bulambuli, Unyama (2,000 hectares) in Amuru and Gulu, Rwimi (2,000 hectares) in Bunyangabu and Kasese, Nabigaga (1,000 hectares) in Kamuli and Buyende, Angololo (1,000 hectares) in Tororo, Amagoro (5,000 hectares) in Tororo, Matanda (3,000 hectares) in Kanungu, Enengo (2,500 hectares) in Rukungiri and Kanungu,  Imvipe (2,500 hectares) in Arua, Purongo (1,000 hectares) in Amuru, Palyec (2,000 hetares) in Nwoya. 

vii.    Government is currently undertaking detailed designs for extra 34 Small Scale Irrigation systems (SSIS) in the various Districts across the country.

Water resources management 

Overall the manifesto target is realized through protecting and managing the quantity and quality of water resources for all socio-economic activities as follows:

(i)    10 Catchment management plans for Aswa, Albert Nile, Mpologoma, Victoria Nile, Awoja, Lokok, Lokere, Maziba, Katonga and Rwizi have been prepared to guide planning and implementation of water resources related investments

(ii)    1500 hectares of water catchments have been protected through soil and water conservation measures (stone bunds, gulley rehabilitation, tree planting, wetland restoration) in 14 catchments of Maziba, Awoja, Aswa, Mpologoma, Lokere, Albert Nile, Semliki, Ruhenzamyenda, Katonga, Lokok, Victoria Nile, Mpanga, Rwizi and Kiha.

(iii)    Four regional water quality laboratories have been established to test the quality of water and ensure that people consume water of good quality

(iv)    1320 water permits for surface water and groundwater abstraction, and waste water discharge were issued as a means of controlling over abstraction and pollution of water resources 

(v)    Completed the assessment of the potential impacts of oil and gas activities on water resources to guide water permitting for oil development activities

(vi)    The Water Resources Institute (WRI) was established in Entebbe as a centre of excellence for building capacity of sector stakeholders through applied research, applied trainings, dialogues and outreach. 32 short courses involving 960 participants have been conducted. 

(vii)    Office blocks for the deceoncetrated structures of the Ministry of Water and Environment were constructed and fully furnished in Mbale, Lira and Fort Portal

(viii)    20 automatic monitoring stations for relying of real time water resources data were established on various rivers, lakes and wells and are fully operational 

(ix)    A Water information system has been established to facilitate rational planning and decision making on issues of water resources

(x)    Uganda hosted the first ever Nile Basin Heads of States Summit as a means of promoting transboundary water cooperation in the Nile Basin.

(xi)    The Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement for the sustainable development and management of the Nile Basin water Resources was ratification by Uganda in preparation for the establishment of the Nile Basin Commission in Entebbe.

(xii)    River Nile water regulation tool for optimal hydropower generation along the Nile was developed and is operational.

Environment police officers after arresting one of the suspected encroachers of Lubigi swamp in Busega, a Kampala suburb.

 

Forest management 

The manifesto target was to increase forest cover to 11% to 15% by 2021.T forest cover has increased to 12.4% by 2019. Government was expected to increase involvement of the population in tree planting aimed at planting 100 million trees in the Manifesto’s five years. Over 103,927,130 million assorted tree seedlings were raised through NFA, the ministry and Private Seedling Nurseries and surpassed the target. 

The Manifesto committed to invest in forest plantation development at a rate of 2,500 ha per year (i.e. 12,500Ha for five years) while maintaining the existing and subsequent young forest crops. This has been achieved and surpassed the target with over 43,866Ha of quality commercial plantations covering new plantations established by private investors in CFRs, NFA and District Forest Services in Local Forest Reserves.

The manifesto committed that the total external boundary of 12,000km of the 506 CFRs under the management of NFA requires opening, re-surveying and regular maintenance. This has been done by NFA alongside other activities to effectively secure the integrity of the Central Forest Reserves. Only 2,752 km (23%) have so far been covered. 

Wetlands management

Our target was to increase wetlands coverage from 10 per cent to 12 per cent by 2021. However the converge has stagnated to less than 8.9 per cent.  

At the same time, the Manifesto committed to up scale the restoration degraded section of wetland. At least 19,480Ha critical wetland ecosystems that were under great threat of encroachment and degradation were identified and earmarked for restoration and demarcation, to ensure that their integrity is maintained.  

To date government has restored 10,263.6Ha of degraded critical wetlands which include Katonga-Sembabule, Mikomago-Masaka, Lubigi-Wakiso and Limoto-Pallisa, Lwere wetland in Bukedea, Nyamirembe in Bushenyi, Kibimba wetland in Gomba, Chosan-Cholol wetland in Nakapiripirit. Others are Kumi, Kampala, Kasese, Aleptong, Pallisa, Ngora, Bukedea, Manafwa, Buhweju, Masaka, Jinja, Kamwenge, Masindi, Hoima, Arua, Kaliro, Gulu, Dokolo, Luwero, Iganga, Mbale, Kibuku, Sheema, Isingiro, Buhweju, Buyende, Namutumba, Pallisa, Kabale, Kisoro, Amuria, Kamuli, Buyende, Maracha, Mbarara, Ntugamo, Kiruhura, Kanungu, Wakiso, Kayunga and Lwengo.

The NRM government promised to demarcate 2,880Kms of boundaries of major critical wetlands in 18 districts. To date, a total of 1,728.5 kms of critical wetlands boundaries have been demarcated with pillars and beacons in districts of Gulu, Lira, Mbale, Bushenyi, Hoima, Jinja, Masindi, Amuria, Kaliro, Buyende, Namutumba, Iganga, Rakai, Sheema, Buhweju, Alebtong, Dokolo, Kisoro, Kabarole, Wakiso and Arua.  

NRMmanFesto4px4

State Minister for Environment Beatrice Atim Anywar

Environmental Management 

The Manifesto commitment is to scale up the Municipal Solid Waste compositing facilities. Under Phase I, nine municipalities of Lira, Soroti, Mbale, Jinja, Mukono, Fort Portal, Kasese, Mbarara, and Kabale were supported to develop modern solid waste management facilities for composting and turning waste into organic manure to promote agricultural production and productivity as well as generating income. 

Phase II was extended to other eight municipalities that include Arua, Gulu, Tororo, Busia, Entebbe, Mityana, Hoima and Masindi. These were supplied with solid waste management equipment like skip loaders, and wheel loaders, while the towns of Arua, Masindi and Hoima have been provided with composting plants. A new biogas project was setup in 2018 to support the composting plants to convert Municipal Solid waste into Biogas targeting the three municipalities of Jinja, Mbale, Masaka and Kampala City. 

The Manifesto earmarked its commitment to continue with the operationalization of the Environmental Protection Police (EPP) to enhance compliance monitoring and law enforcement in Forests and Wetlands. The current Environment Protection Police Unit (EPPU) manpower stands at only 186 personnel, compared to the force of 350 required in the short to medium term.

Weather information

In an effort to provide accurate and timely weather information for better planning and delivery on all the Manifesto commitments the sector acquired three RADARS and this increased the functionality of weather and climate monitoring stations from 25% to 44%, which has greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts.  

Additional progress has been recorded in dissemination of monthly weather updates to the public through local media, District Production Officers and registered farmer groups for decision making at the districts.

 

Challenges 

    Overall, the Water and Environment sector performance in terms of the implementation of NRM Manifesto commitments and the Presidential Strategic Guidelines is rated at 70 per cent. The sector has been constrained by a number of implementation challenges, including:

a.    The safe water coverage has not increased as expected due to fast the growing population amidst the limited resources to invest in high cost technologies that can make a difference in population served with safe water source per village. 

b.    Secondly the District Water and Sanitation Conditional Grant has remained stagnant at Shs52b for the last 15 years despite the increase in number of local governments. To date on average a district receives Shs370m for construction of water points and office running. 

c.    There are land disputes in some of the areas where the water and Environment infrastructures was to be implemented such as at Acanpii dam in Oyam district. To some extent the communities resist construction of water supply schemes and facilities while others demand exorbitant sums of money for land compensation.  

d.    The unanticipated delays in the completion of feasibility studies and designs under the ministry and NWSC equally affected planned commencement of projects.

e.    Continued degradation of water catchments and the general environment, lack of maintenance of water bodies and rivers, inadequate protection of lake shores, river banks and wetlands, and inadequate enforcement of water and environmental laws and regulations continue to be the main causes of flooding and destruction of property in the country. 

f.    Demarcation and restoration of wetlands and forests is ongoing but efforts are over stripped by the level of degradation. 

g.    There is inadequate funding especially at the Local Governments where Shs0.790b is provided to 134 districts annually instead of the desired Shs.15b need annually to restore and protect forest and wetlands countrywide.

h.    The inadequate number of Environmental Police Protection Unit (EPPU) has also affected effective enforcement for environment protection countrywide. 

Conclusion

The sector will continue to address the challenge of environmental degradation by strengthening enforcement of applicable laws, protecting and managing the quantity and quality of water resources, forest and critical wetland in order to reverse the current negative impacts to the infrastructure and peoples livelihoods. 

This story is sponsored by the Government of Uganda.

Govt generates 32.7MW of renewable energy

By Pascal Kwesiga

 

Added 15th October 2017

 

The energy minister, Irene Muloni, said with large power dams currently under construction, Uganda’s electricity generation capacity will more than the double the current 950MW by next year.

 

Solar 703x422

 

SOLAR POWER

The four solar power plants that were set up in the last financial year are generating 32.7MW of renewable energy. 

The plants include the 10MW plant in Soroti, Muvumbe 6.5MW, Siti I6.2MW and another 10MW solar power generation facility in Tororo.



The energy minister, Irene Muloni, said with large power dams currently under construction, Uganda’s electricity generation capacity will more than the double the current 950MW by next year.

According to the ministry, the construction works at the 600MW Karuma Power Dam have progressed to 64%. The largest hydro power plant Uganda is building is expected to be commissioned in December 2018.

Over 75% of the construction work at the 183MW Isimba hydro power dam is complete, and the plant is expected to come on stream by August 2018.

Over 60% of the construction work at the 83MW Agago-Achwa plant is complete. It is also expected to be switched on in October 2018. The additional geotechnical study for the 44.7MW Muzizi hydropower project has been done ahead of the start of construction.

There are about 10 medium size hydropower dams the Government intends to develop in the next few years. The construction of some of the medium hydropower projects has started. Altogether, the medium hydropower dams will generate over 100WM.

“The power production capacity of Uganda will more than double by end of 2018. We are going to have more power to connect Ugandans. We also have an arrangement to take the power to other countries in the region,” Muloni said.

 

 

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It makes economic sense to install solar panels all over the roofs of houses of interested citizens in Uganda, so that as these panels generate solar energy it is sold to UMEME. Such a sale will certainly reduce the cost of electricity in the equatorial state of Uganda. It seems UMEME does not like this technological proposition because it breaks UMEME's monopoly in the energy market. That is why the majority of the electricity consumers in this country do not use electricity to the maximum benefit because it is very expensive. Such a high production of electricity in Uganda is not beneficial to the citizens of Uganda.

CHINA IS NOT SLEEPING OVER SOLAR ENERGY

Posted on 4th September, 2017

China eclipses Europe as 2020 solar power target is smashed

China has reached its 2020 solar power target three years ahead of schedule, after installed capacity topped well over its 105GW target. Europe has been urged to show similar ambition.

New figures published by solar industry firm  last week revealed that China has exceeded its 2020 target of 105GW of installed solar capacity, after new builds in June and July pushed it up beyond 112GW.

Solar power is enjoying a sunny 2017 in China, after the first half of this year saw capacity increased by 24.4GW, dwarfing similar efforts in Europe, and cementing China’s status as the world’s leading solar nation.

 

Sun seems to set on nuclear energy as solar energy capacity catches up with atomic power

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC capacity (PV) will soon match and even overtake nuclear energy’s global capacity, according to new US research. High demand means PV could even become the globe’s dominant energy source by 2050.

China is not planning to rest on its laurels either. Officials have recently tweaked its 2017 forecast for new solar installations and figures now suggest that total new capacity for this year could reach 45GW. In contrast, in 2016 Germany’s total capacity was 41.1GW.

Renewable energy groups have called on Europe to be more like China and strive to be number one in the sector. SolarPower Europe association urged the EU to increase the current 27% renewable energy target for 2030 to 35%.

The association’s recent Global market outlook concluded that only a 35% target will maintain the impetus for the renewable industry. It also estimated that the bloc will struggle to hit the current 27% goal unless ambitions are raised.

China’s ambitions are admittedly impressive. It already boasts the largest solar farm in the world, which measures in at over 30 square kilometres. It also recently opened the world’s largest floating solar farm, which is positioned over an old coal mine.

But once capacity and landmark projects are excluded from the equation, the Chinese solar sector does have significant problems. Although China hit its 2020 target, only 1% of its energy demand is satisfied by solar power. Coal still reigns supreme in its energy mix.

There is also the issue of subsidies. Feed-in-tariffs, paid to solar companies to generate power and make the market more attractive, have often arrived late, hurting the bottom lines of many of those energy firms.

The modern buildings springing up all over the country can put up solar panels and since they are already connected to the UMEME GRID, modern electric converters are able to transfer solar electricity to hydro-electricity so that all these African houses can sell electricity to the UMEME infrastructure stationed on their buildings. A house occupier receiving a UMEME hydro-electricity bill worth 150,000 Uganda Shillings can end up paying only 30,000 Uganda Shillings per month. The energy authority in this tropical country do not seem to like this sort of energy saving technology! 

In Uganda, the modern electricity customers need to look out against these dodgy power investors, who are coming in the African poor tropical countries to make lots of money:

 

31 August, 2017

 

The Red pepper media

 

President Yoweri Museveni has met and held a meeting with a delegation of investors from a Danish Company called Burmeister and Wain Grandinavia Contractors (BWSC).

The delegation that was led by the Chief Executive Officer of BWSC, Mr. Martine Manzi and the Company’s Manager in East Africa, Mr. Jesper Elling, called on the President on Tuesday at State House, Entebbe and briefed him on their interest to invest in the establishment of a hybrid power plant to produce electricity using thermal and solar sources in the country.

 

While welcoming them to do business in Uganda, President Museveni advised the company not to sell the electricity that they will generate at more than 8 American Cents per unit. He assured them that the demand for power in Uganda is increasing adding that the government will avail them land for the establishment of the power plant.

Mr. Martin Manzi, on his part, disclosed that their company will fully finance the project and sell electricity to Uganda’s national grid.