On July 1, the government launched the distribution of one million free light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
The project, worth Shs 10 billion, will benefit electricity consumers. It is expected to make electricity affordable since these LED bulbs can save up to 85 per cent energy, thus reducing on the high cost of lighting bills.
As Ugandans, we appreciate the measures government has put in place to address energy efficiency and access. However, it is evident that, over time, this concept has been misinterpreted by government. Energy efficiency and access is not just about lighting.
The most pressing questions are why can’t we get cheap clean energy to enable us operate our businesses and consequently increase our profit margins? How does the government expect the Youth Livelihood Programme and other crosscutting initiatives to generate maximum benefits for the people and stir economic growth if the operation power costs are high for enterprises?
Why isn’t clean cooking energy affordable even to the middle-class Ugandan? A new study by Dr Cornelius Kazoora, a private consultant, indicates that Uganda produces charcoal worth Shs 87bn annually!
For me, most energy efficiency and access projects being implemented are blind to the needs and views of most Ugandans. In May 2015, the minister for energy and mineral development, Irene Muloni, attended a Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) forum in New York. During the forum, Muloni stressed that the SE4ALL action agenda for Uganda was undergoing validation.
The SE4ALL action agendas priority areas are energy efficiency, access and renewable energy. According to the SE4ALL initiative, the validation process is supposed to involve a wide range of stakeholder groups, the civil society being mentioned as a key player.
The question is: why are Ugandans not involved in the validation process? The Africa Institute for Energy Governance (Afiego), which is a key and active civil society player in the energy sector, has never been notified to make a contribution to the SE4ALL action agenda for Uganda.
How then will Ugandans’ energy needs be conclusively addressed under various energy initiatives and consequently achieve the UN SE4ALL 2030 vision for Uganda which is “All Ugandans accessing affordable electricity by 2030”.
We, therefore, need to involve and widely invest in assessing the needs of the people in order to maximise the benefits from various energy initiatives.
We, therefore, need to involve and widely invest in assessing the needs of the people in order to maximise the benefits from various energy initiatives.
http://www.observer.ug/viewpoint/letters/38589-your-mail-energy-efficiency-is-not-about-distributing-bulbs
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