Buyende residents urged to preserve prime land ahead of nuclear power project

The Energy Ministry, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu said Buyende will soon be evaluated for the nuclear power site and warned residents against hurriedly selling their land to schemers who are targeting government compensation.

Nuclear project clearance

After pre-feasibility studies in 2019, the government identified Buyende as one of the eight sites for the construction of a 2,000 MW Nuclear Power Project to introduce nuclear power into Uganda's electricity generation mix.

Two years later in December, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorsed the project plant development after a successful review of the country's nuclear infrastructure.

Nankabirwa was addressing the media yesterday Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Ministry headquarters ahead of the African Nuclear Business Platform (AFNBP) which will be hosted from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th March 2023 at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo.

AFNBP conference

Nuclear Energy experts will be in Kampala next week at the AFNBP to discuss financing and viability of nuclear power plants to bridge the energy gap.

Nankabirwa said the conference is an excellent opportunity for Uganda and the African continent, to find suitable approaches to the challenges in the nuclear industry.

Nankabirwa pointed out that Uganda is experiencing a surge in population, economic growth, and social needs that call for sustainable development of energy resources to meet the country's National Development Plan (NDP) goals and Vision 2040.

Apart from Buyende, other potential sites for subsequent Nuclear Power Projects for energy security and industrialisation include Lamwo District and Nakasongola District among others.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste, Emmanuel Wamala, the entire project will require an estimate of one square mile of land. This land will account for the nuclear energy power plant, and an additional 34 square miles for the emergency zone for the safety of the public.

The African nuclear power wave

Uganda is one of the seven countries in the Sub-Sahara that have committed to integrating nuclear energy as part of their energy mixes between 2030-2037. The other countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sudan.