VIENNA — Uganda and Russia have signed an agreement setting out a plan to lay the ground for the construction of a centre for nuclear science and technology and a nuclear power plant in Kampala.
The agreement was signed by Nikolay Spassky, Deputy Director General – Director of international activities of Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), while Eng. Irene Muloni, state minister for energy signed on behalf of Uganda.
The deal was struck at the sidelines of the 63rd IAEA General conference in Vienna, Austria.
The two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Rosatom said in a statement: “The roadmap determines specific steps in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy. The parties have identified joint actions within the framework of a nuclear power plant construction and centre for nuclear science construction projects.
“Thus, a foundation is laid for training personnel and raising public awareness about atomic energy.”
The deal “lays the foundation for specific cooperation between Russia and Uganda” in the field of nuclear energy, Rosatom said.
It also paves the way for working together in “the creation of nuclear energy infrastructure, the production of radioisotopes for industry, medicine, agriculture, as well as the training of personnel.” Rosatom said the parties had agreed to organise visits by specialists in the “near future”.
Moscow first signed a memorandum of understanding with Kampala in this area in 2017, ahead of Beijing, which signed a similar agreement in 2018.
