Local govt asked to participate in alternative energy planning

By John Odyek

Ministry of energy officials and experts from GIZ have urged local government leaders to participate in developing affordable and efficient sources of energy at district level to light up districts instead of the long waiting for the central government to do for them what they can do themselves.

The experts and energy officials said local governments developing energy sources would increase access to energy by Ugandans.

Only 17% of Ugandans have access to electricity with over 90% relying on wood and charcoal for cooking, ironing, lighting and heating.

“We want to promote widespread use of renewable and efficient energy and integrate it into the development plans and budgets of districts.

We want local governments to appreciate that energy is a driver of development and not a peripheral issue,” Eng. Godfrey Ndawula, assistant commissioner for new and renewable sources of energy said.

This was during the presentation of the guidelines for mainstreaming energy into district development plans and annual work plans on Wednesday.

The function that took place at Golf course hotel, Kampala was attended by top officials from local governments.
The guidelines will be piloted in 17 districts of West Nile and Lango regions over two years before they are rolled out country wide.

They were developed by the ministry of energy and mineral development GIZ, a German Federal government organisation for international co-operation and development.

The objectives of the guidelines are to ensure effective integration of energy issues into district sector plans and budgets, strengthen coordination between central and local government on energy issues.

It targets setting up district energy coordination structures, build capacity of local governments to handle energy issues, ensure that they develop energy policies and integrate them into by-laws.

Some of the energy sources districts can budget for include solar panels, energy saving bulbs, energy efficient cooking stoves.
They are expected to create awareness about efficient use of charcoal, firewood and plant trees to sustain the environment.

Ina Hommers, deputy programme director, energy programme GIZ said each district would be supported with a budget of about sh10 to sh20m per year for mainstreaming energy into their work plans and budgets, for data collection and to support the activities of a district energy focal person.

Hommers said the chief administrative officers would head the district energy coordination structures and would be supported by the district planner and the focal person appointed from existing staff.

Ron Fluegel, Lira district regional energy advisor, GIZ said many people, schools and institutions in the district like in other districts were using ‘three stones’ to cook using firewood and this wastes a lot of firewood.

Fluegel said when the cooking stones are replaced with better technologies 50% to 60% of the firewood was saved.
He said they stress maintenance and sustainability of renewable energy sources and people have to be trained to oversee maintenance equipment and that they are well installed.

Valentin Hollain, Arua district regional energy advisor said using energy sources like solar for charging mobile phones, lighting hospitals and schools improves motivation of staff and positively impacts on service delivery.

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