THE New Vision readers have voted Syda Bbumba, the minister of Energy and Mineral Development, as the worst performing minister due to increased load-shedding.

Whereas the readers may be wrong to heap all the blame on Bbumba, their vote shows that power deficit is one of their most pressing problems. It directly affects their lives. Load shedding disrupts industrial production, business and family routines. It also discourages investors.

Load-shedding has worsened during the past few months because the water level of Lake Victoria went down, reducing power production. Although the ministry blamed drought, more than two months after the return of the rainy season, there is no improvement in power generation.

The Meteorology Department says what Uganda experienced in 2004 was a dry spell and not a drought.

A bigger reason for the power deficit is that constructing Kiira Dam parallel to Nalubaale Dam doubled the runoff from Lake Victoria, lowering the water level and reducing electricity production at each dam. Well-paid consultants made this design error under the observation of the ministry’s technocrats.

The energy ministry is making efforts to add two new power generation units to Kiira Dam, construct other dams downstream, generate thermal power and import more power from Kenya. However, the next dam on the Nile is not expected until 2008. The two extra units at Kiira might not be ready until mid 2005. The 20MW to be imported from Kenya is too little to cover the deficit.

The process of installing thermal generators should be speeded up.

Efforts to promote alternative sources such as solar energy should be stepped up. More power should be generated from small waterfalls in various parts of the country to reduce transmission costs and losses. Educating the public on saving energy should go beyond placing adverts in the mass media. Designers of the Kiira Dam should be held accountable.

The energy ministry should not make 2005 a more distressful year for Ugandans.