Uganda needs to strengthen its standards' bodies

By Samuel Okulony

Nearly a year since 98 solar lights were installed on Kabaka Anjagala, Mbogo and Nsambya roads, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is reported to have woken up to the fact that the donated solar panels were faulty.

It is said that following a public outcry, KCCA undertook some investigations that showed that the panels were faulty!

This supply and installation of sub-standard solar panels to the country raises questions on the functionality and competence of some of our institutions that are mandated to monitor standards and compliance.

As much as the street lamps project was financed with a Chinese government donation worth $800,000 (about sh2.5b) under the solar street demonstration project, the solar lights should have been subjected to inspection prior to installation in line with the laws and policies of Uganda.

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is an institution mandated by law to monitor and compliance to standards.

KCCA’s department of engineering and technical services (ETS) also had a role to play in ensuring that the panels met minimum standards before importation and installation. Instead, KCCA’s engineers received, installed and waited for public outcry to inspect the solar panels.

Did UNBS and KCCA’s ETS play their role in ensuring that minimum standards are met?

If Uganda can receive sub-standard solar panels, install them on the streets and nearly a year goes by before UNBS and KCCA check to ensure that the donated solar panels meet required standards, the answer is no. Not in this case at least.

Ugandans also need worry about their public safety. Assuming a hazardous substance, which could seriously affect human health was being emitted by the solar panels, how many people would have lost their lives?

This is a hypothetical question but if we fail to meet standards, it is possible to harm human health. Needless economic costs can also be incurred, if we fail to ensure standards. In this case, donated money, labour and other costs seem to have been needlessly spent on.

We need to ensure compliance and enforcement of standards for both local and imported substances in our country to avoid economic and social costs.

Certainly, the plans by KCCA to install over 500 solar streetlights in the central business area in an effort to improve on the city’s security and cut on the cost of hydropower charges is commendable. However, UNBS and KCCA’s department of ETS must work to ensure that standards for imported products, either bought or donated, are inspected and monitored to avoid putting the life of people into risks.

The writer is the programmes and research coordinator of the Africa Institute for Energy Governance