As Uganda sets off for achieving her vision 2040 goal, the discussion around creating not only a climate resilience economy but also an adaptive environment to climate change for a low carbon pathway becomes along one especially that the Constitution provides for a clean and safe environment for every citizen
The discussion however became more timely with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to rethink the 2040 National Development Goals however, putting in mind the post-covid-19 recovery and that whichever decision zeroing down to job creation, empowerment, and how to ensure that people have a source of income.
Mwamed Sizoomu a renewable energy expert and CEO of Solar Pipo notes that 100% transition comes with a lot of activities that always come in series and stages. To him, this does not mean a one-time achievement but a gradual process that included a lot of stakeholders thus creating many numerous opportunities along the way.
Sizoomu notes that the country adopting renewable energies meant long working hours for especially the manufacturing businesses.
“off-grid businesses really have obstacles, because of the financial costs that come with energies like diesel end up limiting their operation and thus cheap energy come in handy,” Sizoomu noted.
He adds that for renewable energies the benefits are both direct and indirect opportunities for instance those who operate a mini-grid which involves contractors and also the other opportunities that come because of the clean energy generation.
The challenge however for Sizoomu, has always been government’s failure to strike a balance between areas that are totally off-grid but have a potential to produce if provided with clean energies and the areas that have already shown their potential in production.
With the increasing fuel prices, also impacting on the lively hood, transitioning to 100% renewable energy will able the country to tap into renewable resources to meet not only their energy demand but also their needs that are in abundance.
Taking advantage of the available technologies and opportunities that exist to ensure that every household and institution is utilizing their energy in a sustainable and resilient manner
Over 90% of Uganda’s primary energy needs are bio mass including firewood and charcoal.However, statistics from the National Forest Authority indicate that Uganda is losing her forest cover at a huge rate
The rate of afforestation, reforestation, and Agroforestry should match the rate at which deforestation is happening to meet the energy needs.
Vian Musika the Manager of Renewable Energy at Ecological Christian organization, notes that Uganda needs, therefore, to move away from the discussion of tree planting to tree growing beginning from the small scale like individual households to the big scale.
According to the expert, if all the vast lands are turned into plantations then before we know it from small to large scale the vegetation cover will be restored and there would enough wood to cater for the short, medium, and long terms firewood needs.
“Instead of these renewable sources becoming a menace to the society, they must be turned into energy, and an investment in the different forms and types is needed,” Musika noted
Adding that this must be supported with supportive practices at different levels ranging from the institutions to the individual basis reflecting on what it would mean for Uganda to reduce its Carbon emission.
Mwamed Sizoomu, Country coordinator of Climate Action Network (CAN) noted that renewable energy provides some of the best opportunities and that in the broader sense the response to climate change lies in two core values of adaptation and mitigation which Uganda needs
He notes that the real business now relayed in moving towards the broader goal of a low emission future commonly described as a low carbon future.
“There has been a number of efforts that have been put in places like National Appropriate Mitigation Action at the ministry of energy for schools that requires the use of clean stoves and e- mobility. There is therefore a lot of activity taking place to ensure that there is a reduction of emission by 24.7 % by 2030 an equivalent of 37 metric tons of carbon needed to be reduced,” Mwamed alluded.
Adding that all efforts combined together and by addressing the economics of energy there will be enormous creation of opportunities along the value chain.
“A lot of people are inclined to the fact that the green jobs are the solar or waste jobs but they are many forms of energy that only require to be intercepted in Uganda’s energy mix.”
According to the current statistics, the energy insecurities of the communities are posing a threat to the future. In Uganda alone, according to the 2014 population census, the population growth rate lies at 3.2% per anum which translates to 1.2 million young people every year however the energy sources available cant sustain their energy needs and demands indicating a bigger crisis if nothing is done to change the trend
The government therefore ought to tailor energy sources and resources that match the energy needs of different areas to enable the youth and especially women to exploit the different energy sources.
This should be backed up with plans of installing mini-grids in areas that are off-grid, mindset changing, enhance the enabling environment and encourage every stakeholder to play their part.
