Uganda, IAEA nuclear deal to provide solutions

By Ibrahim Kasita

Uganda and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed a five-year framework for the application of nuclear technologies to solve day to day problems -from hunger and poverty.

“This mutually agreed strategy is expected to match nuclear technology to national priorities for sustainable development,” Irene Muloni, the minister of energy and mineral development, disclosed.

“The focus of the cooperation will be feasibility studies for nuclear power projects, uranium exploration and evaluation, cancer management, food and agriculture, water resources management and strengthening the national nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure.”

Over the past years population has rapidly increased and so has the demand for food, water, energy and land for agriculture.

To solve such everyday problems, the energy ministry and mineral development intends to peacefully apply nuclear technologies to meet basic needs.

Food crops
Rapid population growth, together with climate change and resource overuse, threatens future food security.

To alleviate losses in agricultural production and to support low input farming, crop breeding has been developed to improve crop quality and to strengthen the stress resilience of plants, maintaining crop yields without the help of fertilizers.

Scientists are undergoing training to develop new plant varieties in a wide-range of crops to better crop quality and improved stress tolerance.

This advanced breeding is expected to increase farmers’ incomes and agricultural production and to improve food security.

“A pilot testing technological packages will be developed to improve crop productivity and to enhance soil quality and reliance to climate change and variability,” Sarah Nafuna, the head nuclear energy unit of the ministry of energy and mineral development, stated.

“(There has been) development of virus free sweet potatoes and cassava planting materials and the development of a new soya variety with higher nitrogen fixing capacity to increase productivity.”

Livestock
Livestock farming is an important source of animal based food products and income for famers but facing low productivity and diseases.

However the IAEA has pledged to assist Uganda to optimize livestock productivity through improving animal nutrition, animal reproductive efficiency, and the diagnosis and control of major endemic animal diseases.

Nafuna said Uganda will get support to establish 12 animal disease control laboratories in addition to a well-equipped laboratory in the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre which controls major trans-boundary livestock diseases.

This will improve livestock productivity through the development of appropriate selection criteria for genetically improved livestock, instituting integrated management, nutrition and health care practices and using modern reproductive techniques.

Human health
Cancer is on the rise, the most common being cervical cancer. Until now, cancer patients had to be sent to Mulago National Referral hospital for the expensive treatment.

However government, with the support from IAEA, plans to extend radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services to Lacor Hospital in Gulu, Mbarara and Mbale Hospitals.

The Agency will continue to train medical physicists and radiographers for the new facility and to provide expert advice on the safe and secure use of the equipment.

New staff must also be trained in medical dosimeter to determine the dose of radiation needed for the safe and effective treatment of each patient.

Malnutrition

Most families consume cereals, maize, and sorghum for survival. However such crops are
Generally deficient in essential vitamins and minerals, and the families cannot afford micronutrient supplements, and their food security is often at risk.

Bio fortification – the enrichment of the nutritional properties of edible crops – can be achieved through a combination of agronomy and plant breeding.

Among the tools available to plant breeders, induced mutation is highly efficient in altering the genetic constitution of plants, creating a wealth of genetic variability including desirable changes in crop quality, nutrient content and composition.   

The support will address deficiencies in essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals in maize and sorghum by training national staff in various aspects of induced crop mutation and by providing the necessary equipment and consumables

Nuclear Energy
Already a nuclear power development strategy has been prepared. It outlines the key issues for consideration before embarking on the nuclear power projects

“The roadmap will determine the activities to be undertaken and resources required by government and other stakeholders to commission the first nuclear plant in Uganda,” Sarah Nafuna, the head Nuclear Energy Unit of the minister of energy and mineral development said.

“The issues to be considered include suitable nuclear power sites, sound policy an legal framework, strong regulatory framework, adequate human resources, stakeholders’ involvement and appropriate nuclear power physical infrastructure.”

Nafuna pointed out that a pre-feasibility study on setting up a nuclear power plant in Uganda has commenced.

The framework will support appraisal studies in four geothermal energy sites of Kibiro (Hoima), Buranga (Ntoroko-Bundibugyo), Panyimur (Nebbi) and Katwe-Kikorongo (Kasese) to define exploration drilling targets.

Groundwater
Over 90% of Uganda’s water supply comes from groundwater and only less that 50% of the population has access to an improved water supply.

Groundwater investigation is, therefore, indispensable for ensuring sustainable and judicious use of water resources.

Isotope hydrology has become a standard tool in the country's strategy for future water resource development. This will provide reliable scientific and technical basis for water resource exploration, development and management.

Understanding of groundwater and surface water systems and the impacts of droughts and floods is very important.

This calls for the high level commitment by top management of partner institutions applying nuclear technologies.