20,000 households to receive energy saving bulbs

Government is to distribute a total of 580,000 LED bulbs to over 20,000 households in the country.

"On the issue dealing with bulbs we are to converge with stakeholders discuss on the criteria on the distribution but the bulbs will be distributed next year," Maclian Senyonga an officer in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

Senyonga was speaking during a discussion on Climate Change organised by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) at the Innovations Village in Ntinda on Tuesday.

The initiative which is a partnership with power distributor, Umeme is aimed at creating awareness for the public to appreciate the use of LED bulbs and other energy saving resources in the country.

"Only UMEME customers receive three LED bulbs, those out of that network should not expect to get," Senyonga said while clarifying on questions raised by participants in the discussion as to why many had not received the bulbs that had been promised.

He added that the move would as well benefit government as well as individual spending on power.

"These bulbs reduce on the weight of disturbances as less volts are used. There will be limited losses in the volts used and less dams constructed. To the end user the power bills will be cut down," Senyonga explained.

Original LED bulbs cost between sh10,000 to sh25,000.