An Overview of Energy in Uganda

In the Ugandan Constitution it states that “The state shall promote and implement energy policies that will ensure that people’s basic needs and those of environmental preservation are met."

In Uganda there are many different types of energy to explore. It begins with Uganda’s capacity for hydro power. There are many stations throughout the country along the Nile river that collect hydro power that is sold. It is affordable for the majority of the population, however the energy that is generated has wide applications with limited emissions. Another downside to this type of electricity is it is not easy to get to rural communities, and considering Uganda is mainly rural it is not ideal. Another type of energy is wind energy, however it is downplayed because it is not the most efficient and wind speeds never get that high even along the coastline. Uganda also relies on imports of fossil due to its increased energy demand. One of the most common sources of energy in Uganda is biomass. Biomass are materials such as firewood and charcoal that are extremely common in households and are used for cooking. They have a lot of environmental drawbacks and health problems. It creates issues such as resultant air pollution, injuries acquired when collecting wood, and burns. However, biomass provides an affordable and effective option for rural and urban poor.

Solar technology is the future for Uganda.

This technology is the future for the country and many things are needed to expand its applications. Awareness of this application needs to rise in order for it to become more well-known and implemented throughout the country. Another factor that limits the purchase and use of solar technologies is the poverty that grasps this nation. Overall, the biggest concern of the consumer is it affordability, accessibility, and convenience. In order for this to become more well-known and used it is necessary to educate the consumer and help facilitate small loans to get people to buy the initial setup requirements.

By increasing knowledge of solar panels it can help expand lighting, increase literacy rates, and decrease of air pollution, helping the overall, goal of increasing affordable and sustainable energy.