By Frank Kamuntu
The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) together with Oxfam Uganda has conducted a public dialogue on leveraging effective renewable energy financing at an event hosted at Makerere University Business School, Nakawa.
Julius Mukunda the Executive Director of CSBAG revealed the secret behind holding the discussions at MUBS; ”We are collaborating on how we can use the academia to advance our advocacy work, we need to groom a cadre of people who can champion this cause.”
In the same discussions, Mukunda urged Gov’t to find a possible solution for the high electricity tariffs, saying this hinders the growth of renewable energy in Uganda.
”There’s electricity in Kampala, but have you imagined how many lorries of charcoal are being transported to Kampala? Electricity is there but expensive, people aren’t using it for cooking,” noted Mukunda.
Below are some recommendations Mukunda wants the Government to focus on if it really aims at boosting renewable energy use in Uganda.
• Decentralize energy functions to local governments.
• Prioritize funding towards renewable energy alternatives.
• Reduce electricity tariffs for affordable electricity access, especially for the poor and manufacturing sector and female-headed households.
• Establish of solar fund to target poor and vulnerable communities.
•Support awareness programmes on renewable energy to rural poor communities.
• Transfer subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies such as solar energy to boost the uptake of renewable energy at the household level.
•Expedite the formulation of solar energy policy including pro-poor solar energy concerns.
A high percentage of Uganda’s energy consumption comes from renewable sources, but mainly from traditional firewood and charcoal.
