Uganda will Tuesday host an International Atomic Energy Mission which is being conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Speaking at the project launch at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Sarah Mudoko, the head of the nuclear unit at the ministry, said that Uganda will need sights, more skilled personnel, and minerals to succeed with the nuclear power plant envisaged projects.

Hon. Sidronius Okaasai Opolot, the state minister for Energy said Uganda’s transformation is hinged on energy generation and is hoped to lead the country into a middle-income country.

According to Opolot, by the end of this year, the country will have the capacity to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity, which is double the current demand. 

However, forecasts indicate by 2035, demand will outstrip this capacity, hence the need to steadily increase the capacity through other sources like nuclear.

“Our next energy mix is nuclear energy, and we need to put up a nuclear infrastructure to support the early development and use of nuclear power by 2031. Eight nuclear sites have been identified and Buyende seems to be most suitable,” the Minister said.

The expected outcome from the nuclear infrastructure review the Minister said is to increase awareness on the requirement for the construction of related infrastructure plants and go nuclear to produce energy, enhance capacity, and increase readiness to construct the first plant.

According to an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency, a successful nuclear power programme requires broad political and popular support and a national commitment of up to 100 years.

According to the 2020 Energy Sector Performance Report, Uganda’s nuclear energy will be used for electricity generation, cancer management, food safety assessment, tsetse control, improving agriculture productivity, water resource management and in industries.

As you know, nuclear power is a serious business. It has a lot of benefits to the host countries that are operating it and for any generation, it will also require a set of responsibilities and obligations.

"So, this significant undertaking requires good and long-term support based on leadership support to make it successful. This long term means more than 100 years because starting from the early preparation of the programme until the end of the operation, takes more than two years and even if you consider the management of majority base, which arise from the operational, it is much more beyond that," he added.

According to the official, it would take 15 years to develop all the infrastructure required for the programme and to build the entity before starting the operation. 

"So, this shows the importance of careful preparation for the programme," he said.