KAMPALA — The ministry of energy and mineral development has on Thursday, September 19 spoken out on the nuclear deal with Russia saying it will harness the positive contribution of nuclear energy to socio economic development in Uganda.
Uganda’s Energy minister Eng. Irene Muloni and Mr. Nikolai Spasskiy, the Deputy Director General of ROSATOM signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Russia government and Uganda on Cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The signing was witnessed by Ms. Sarah Nafuna, the Head/ Nuclear Energy Unit /National Liaison Officer for IAEA Technical Cooperation, Hon. Oliver Koyekyenga Katwesigye, Member, Natural Resources Committee of Parliament of Uganda, Dr. Akisophel Kisolo, the Chairperson Atomic Energy Council, and other Senior Government of Uganda officials.
The ministry has revealed that the agreement establishes a strong cooperative framework with a focus on development of nuclear infrastructure in Uganda; production and application of radioisotopes for industrial, healthcare, agricultural use; support towards strengthening nuclear and radiation safety and security, as well as education and training.
Ms. Muloni in her remarks expressed appreciation to the Russian for the cooperation in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and pledged government’s commitment to work with ROSATOM within the scope of the agreement to harness the positive contribution of nuclear energy to socio economic development.
Similarly, Mr. Nikolai Spasskiy expressed the commitment and readiness of ROSATOM to support Uganda’s plans to development the peaceful use of nuclear energy especially in the nuclear power plant development and nuclear science and technology center.
To this end, the parties agreed to create workgroups to further develop projects; on the construction of nuclear power plants in Uganda and the construction of the Center for nuclear science and technology in Uganda on the basis of a research reactor of Russian design.
The Center of Nuclear Science and Technology will be used for nuclear training, research and development. In addition, the Centre will have facilities for the production of radioisotopes for cancer management.
It will also have an irradiation facility for improving the shelf life of the agricultural produce, sterilization of flowers for export and improving agricultural productivity through research.
