By Geresom Musamali
THE World Bank has agreed to help Uganda urgently solve the electric power shortage.
The power crisis, which President Yoweri Museveni attributes to the World Bank and some local politicians, has over the last year threatened to cripple the economy.
Museveni was on Monday meeting World Bank managing director Dr. Juan Jose Daboub at the Entebbe Airport VIP Lounge (above), according to a State House statement.
The World Bank country office said as part of a seven-country working trip to Africa, Daboub visited Uganda for two days to get a first-hand account of Uganda’s impressive macro-economic performance over the last 20 years.
He also wanted to gain a better understanding of Uganda’s opportunities and challenges in implementing its third Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).
Museveni requested the World Bank to urgently facilitate Uganda’s energy plans. He said thermal power production costs US24 cents per unit compared to hydro-electric power which costs US4 cents.
Museveni expressed optimism that the World Bank would assist in ending the energy shortage through supporting the simultaneous construction of hydro-electric stations.
He said the energy demand in Uganda had outpaced supply.
Museveni also requested for assistance in road construction, saying Uganda’s roads are supposed to have a life-time of seven years but they are not maintained due to lack of funds.
Daboub assured Museveni that the World Bank would help in the quick construction of hydro and thermal electric power stations.
“The World Bank shares the Government’s view that increasing power generation, including through private sector providers, is a priority for Uganda,” said Daboub.
He said, “For Uganda to continue on the path to prosperity, it will need to implement an effective and transparent regulatory framework, which will help to attract private investments in the energy sector.”
Daboub said reliable access to power was critical to running schools and clinics as well as the businesses that create jobs.
He said countries need good policies, efficient service delivery and appropriate regulatory frameworks for private sector investment to sustain growth and reduce poverty. He said all these elements were strongly impacted by the quality of governance, including ability to control graft.
“The World Bank will continue to work with Government, civil society and deve-lopment partners to ensure Uganda achieves tangible improvement in governance and the fight against corruption,” he said.
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