Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Kasese Remote Communities To Be Connected To Solar Power Starting Next Month :: Uganda Radionetwork
D’ujanga told URN that the ministry is to invest more resources and work with private sector partners to support strategies aimed at increasing access to clean energy in rural and peri-urban areas.
Residents in remote
areas of Kasese district are to benefit from solar energy thanks to the construction
of six solar mini power stations in Kasese and Rubirizi districts to enhance
Uganda’s goal of achieving access to universal clean and renewable energy.
The power stations were built by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
in partnership with the World Wide Fund-Uganda (WWF-U) with financial support
from European Union-EU. In Kasese, the power stations are found in Kuhuramu and
Kisebere in Kitholu Sub County and Kasenyi in Lake Katwe Sub County.
They target to supply
power to over 900 households and 200 business units. Simon D’ujanga, the Energy
State Minister, who visited the power stations in Kasese on Friday, says
that they have received the necessary equipment and discussions on the tariffs
and other technicalities are ongoing between different stakeholders.
D’ujanga told URN that the ministry is to invest more resources and work with
private sector partners to support strategies aimed at increasing access
to clean energy in rural and peri-urban areas.
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The minister said the connection will be managed by the Rural Electrification
Agency-REA and private sector under the supervision of the Electricity
Regularity Authority-ERA.
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David Duli, the WWF Country Director says that they have been implementing
a five-year project in energy, climate and extractives with the main objective
of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through widespread access to clean and
renewable energy.
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However, Duli says the project was not in isolation from the various programs
they are undertaking in renewable energy across the Albertine region and the
country at large.
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Kasese District LC V Chairperson, Ssebendire Bigogo Thembo has called on the government
to increase its partnerships so that more power stations can be put in place to
extend power to the most remote areas in the district. The chairperson also
appeals to government to improve the road infrastructure to create holistic
development.
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Selvesto Masereka a resident of Mwaro in Kasenyi calls on REA and the government to
offer fair tariffs that can be affordable to the local people. He prefers the
tariffs to be discussed with the consumers before the connection plans are
undertaken.
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With a population of more than 40 million people, Uganda’s total Renewable
Energy potential is estimated to be above 6,500MW and only 20.4% of this is
utilized in form of electricity.
