Uganda’s Minister (designate) of Energy and Mineral Development Hon. Eng. Irene Muloni has Saturday launched the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) in Uganda as a way of increasing access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services in the country and the East African region.
In addition, it will improve energy security and mitigation of negative emissions by creating an enabling environment though informing policy, capacity building and creating awareness.
The establishment of the regional center which will be situated at the Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) follows a decision by the East African Community (EAC) member states and is supported by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) And Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
The College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere
University where EACREEE will be situated
In her remarks during the launching of the Centre at Makerere University, Eng. Muloni said that adequate renewable energy is key in promoting industrialization and subsequently achieving Uganda’s middle income status by 2020.
She added that the creation of this facility will support the efforts to realize this target.
“Majority of Ugandans are in the rural areas and they rely on bio mass including charcoal and agricultural waste for energy. Fortunately, 85% of the energy Uganda relies on is renewable and thus need to fully tap into its potential. Only a few of the population are connected to the electricity power and this remains a major constraints to industrial activities particularly manufacturing,” she stated.
In a bid to counter these shortfalls, Minister (designate) Muloni said the regional strategy is working towards wider penetration of renewable energy through its Northern Corridor Integration and Standardized High Voltage projects.
The ceremony was also attended by the Director General UNIDO Phillipe Schottes, the Head of Office Austrian Development Agency in Uganda Gunter Engelits and Deputy Secretary General EAC Jessica Ariyo among other delegates from the East African Community.
The Head of Office Austrian Development Agency in Uganda Gunter
Engelitis (L) shakes hands with the Principal CEDAT Dr. Henry
Alinaitwe after signing the protocol establishing the centre as
Minister Muloni (2nd L) and EAC Deputy Secretary General Jessica Ariyo
(R) look on.
Mr. Schottes welcomed the establishment of the center which he said is necessary to facilitate industrial development. He mentioned that there’s growing global recognition of the significance of green energy
following the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On her part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General Jessica Ariyo said; “The center is a milestone in the integration process and needs to be taken seriously. We hope that this will facilitate a dialogue and exchange of ideas between stakeholders in the private sector within the EAC member states.”
The ceremony saw the signing of the protocol for the establishment of the Center between CEDAT, EAC and Austrian Development Agency.
Makerere University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe hailed the East African Community and partners for considering the university to host the Center.
“There is no better place that would have been chosen but Makerere which is the leading research
institution in Africa after University of Cape Town.”
Kayoora solar bus which is a clean energy innovation developed through the university’s Kiira project was also showcased at the Saturday ceremony with Eng. Muloni and other delegates taking a ride.
Minister Muloni and other delegates pose after taking a ride on the
famous Kayola solar bus by Kiira Motors