Experts have urged Ugandans to embrace solar energy for both domestic and industrial use such that they have an option when the hydropower electricity supply declines.
Dr. Nicholas Mukisa, an expert in Renewable Energy from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, says that with the effects of climate change which causes drought, there is a likelihood that water levels in water bodies where hydropower is generated shall reduce.
Dr. Mukisa says that in 2002, and a few preceding years, there was a drought in some parts of the country, which affected water levels and hence reduced the hydropower generated. He says that the government resorted to thermal electricity like that in Namanve Industry Park to deal with the effects of limited power supply prompted by reducing water levels but the plants have since been decommissioned.
The plant in Namanve, which used to generate 50 megawatts has since been decommissioned to generate only seven megawatts, said Dr. Mukisa who was speaking at the graduation ceremony of solar technicians at Silver Springs in Bugolobi.
Dr. Mukisa adds that as Uganda moves towards Industrialization, there is need for more reliable energy amidst climate change challenges. Harold Schutzeichel, the Director of Stiftung Solar Energy Foundation, says that solar energy should be embraced especially because it is cheaper and is decentralized.
He says solar can be easily accessible to people in rural areas where there is a limited transmission of hydroelectricity. Schutzeichel who started a solar company more than 20 years ago in Germany, says that Ugandans should improve their investment in solar not only to offer cheaper energy but to make sure that the profits remain in the economy.
He urged big local companies to take a particular interest in the solar system to cut their costs on power and support the local solar economy.
In the promotion of solar energy, one of the important stakeholders is the technicians who install, maintain, service and sometimes deal in solar equipment. Sendea, a network of like-minded local solar companies in Uganda has been training solar technicians to ensure that they perform their duties with enough skills.
Loy Florence Kyozaire, the Head of Sendea says that since 2018 they have trained over 2000 solar power technicians from different parts of the country. She asked the government to support the training of solar technicians and also provide equipment to youths from vulnerable families who have chosen to join the profession.
She also says that after training and getting certified, the technicians have a better chance to get employment and negotiate better pay.
Johnson Byambara Turyamwesimira, the Principal Qualifications Officer in charge of Assessment at the Directorate of Industrial training says that so far they have assessed over 500 Ugandans as Solar technicians, an achievement he says shall help to eliminate unqualified technicians commonly known as kamyufu.
He says there is still a need to certify more technicians to eliminate freelance technicians, especially those dealing with solar power. According to Byambara, freelance technicians working on hydroelectricity have reduced considerably compared to those of Solar.
One of the beneficiaries, Waiswa Agonza says that he had been a freelance technician for a year when he was taken up by Sendea and trained in solar installation, maintenance and servicing. He says that with the skills attained, he was able to get a job at Access Solar Company and hopes to grow his skills even further.
He, however, asked the government to intervene and help youth acquire the right equipment needed to do their job, especially those who may not be employed by big companies or are trying to be self-employed.
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