Uganda Inks Atomic Energy Deal with Russia

The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has signed the Memoranum of Understanding (MoU) with the Russian state Atomic Energy Corporation(ROSATOM) on the cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

A statement issued by Uganda’s energy ministry on Tueday, the MoU was signed on June19, 2017 in Moscow by Eng. Simon D’Ujanga, the Minister of State for Energy, on behalf of the Ugandan Government and Nikolai Spasskiy, the Deputy Director General of ROSATOM, on behalf of the Russian Government.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Uganda in Moscow, Ambassador Rutazindwa Gideon Mwebaze and the ROSATOM Director General Alexey Likhachev.

The signing was also witnessed by Dr. Stepehn Robert Isabalija, the Permanent Secretary, Sarah Nafuna, the Head Nuclear Energy Unit and Sabbiti Baguma, Tecehnical Staff from the MEMD.

The Memorandum is the first step towards bilateral cooperation in area of peaceful uses of atomic energy by both countries.

The document establishes a framework for coorpeartion with a focus on development of nuclear power infrasturucture in the Republic of Uganda and the uses of radioisotopes and radiation technologies, applications in industry, medicine, agriculture and other areas.

The MoU will also cover corroboration on Human Resource education and training, nuclear research centers, nuclear energy among others.

The joint working group of Uganda and Russia will define the scope of work for implementation of initiatives mentioned above.

A critical step towards this end is both countries concluding an Intergovenmantal Agreement (IGA).

Discussions on the IGA were initiated at the sidelines of the IX International Forum ATOMEXPO-2017. The Agreement will facilitate the two countries in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency guidance.