Uganda Prisons inks partnership with Electricity Regulatory Authority to implement a Biomass to Power Project
Drake Nyamugabwa
Uganda Prisons Services has signed a memorandum of association with The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to implement a pilot project that will allow Uganda Prisons Services facilities to transit from using Biomass to Electricity for cooking.
The Charcoal to Power project aims to introduce efficient and clean cooking technologies for the facilities of the Uganda Prisons Service, namely, the Luzira Upper Prison, the Women’s prison, and the Maximum prison; and will be rolled out to other prisons facilities across the country.
ACGP/SD Akena Samuel signed on behalf of the Uganda Prisons Service while Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, the ERA Chief Executive Officer, signed the MOU on behalf of ERA, at a ceremony that took place at the New ERA House, Plot 5C – 1, Industrial Area Lugogo on March 23, 2022.
This initiative is under “The Charcoal to Power Project” project. The Pilot Project, for which the MoU has been signed, is the second pilot project to be implemented under ERA’s Charcoal to Power Initiative. The first one was a similar Pilot Project implemented at the Mwanamugimu Children’s Clinic at Mulago Hospital.
Under this project, the Prisons facilities and other institutions will pay UGX451.4 per Unit of electricity consumed, compared to the normal Tariff (currently at UGX 747.5 per Unit – subject to change every quarter in line with movements of the Macro-Economic parameters).
The project presents notable benefits, including a reduction in pollution associated with cooking using Biomass, improved health by eliminating inhalation of smoke during the cooking process that is dangerous to lives, reduction in deforestation.
The project is in tandem with achieving Sustainable Development Goal Number 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
The charcoal to Power Project is an initiative of the Electricity Regulatory Authority aimed at improving the health status of Ugandans by reducing CO2 emissions through increased per capita consumption of Electricity.
It is also aimed at the growing demand for electricity through Increased usability of electricity for cooking in households, institutions, and commercial establishments. Under the project, ERA targets to convert 50,000 households, 500 institutions (including hospitals, prisons, institutions of learning), and commercial enterprises from use of Biomass as the primary source of energy for cooking or heating to use of electricity.
