Dream of Power Plan by 2031:
Uganda plans to finalize the dream of establishing a Nuclear Power Plan with a target of producing 1000 MW of Nuclear Energy by 2031 as announced by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa in November 2023 during the 19th Energy and Mineral Exhibition from Akamwesi Shopping Centre in Kyebando in Kampala. This first nuclear project according to the Minister is expected to be located at Buyende, about 150 km (93 miles) North of the capital Kampala.
In this, Uganda has a responsibility to ensure that the International community is with her by ratifying and signing the International Treaties and Convention on Nuclear Safety and Security in compliance with the International Legal Framework.
Therefore, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Uganda among other important stakeholders have a big role to play for Uganda to completely be trusted by the International Nations as it is rooted in the Peaceful application of Nuclear Energy in the Medical, Industrial, Security and for Education and Research and the Electricity generation to be supported by the dream power plan.
The Pending International Unsigned Treaties and Conventions:
According to data The Elephant obtained from the Atomic Energy Council in Uganda, about Seven Pending Treaties and Conventions have not been attended to by the ambitious Uganda that wants to Join South Africa and Egypt in Africa for a Nuclear Economy.
The Treaties Uganda needs to attend to include the 2005 Amendment on the Convection on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS), Joint Convention on Safety of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management, International Convention on Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), Convention and Protocol on suppression of Unlawful Acts in Maritime Navigation and on Fixed platforms (SUA Convention), Convention on early Notification and Assistance in case of Nuclear or Radiological accident and Convention on Suppression of Unlawful Acts relating to International Civil Aviation.
Treaties and Convention Uganda has complied with:
The Elephant has also confirmed that Uganda has already complied with some international Legal Framework for Nuclear Safety and Security namely; The international Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons NPT (1982), The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (2001), the Convection on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material CPPNM (2003), Committed to the UN Security Council Resolution1540 (2006) and Uganda already expressed support to the Code of Conduct of the safety and security of radioactive sources (2014)
The Implication of the Pending Treaties on the Ambitious Uganda:
The Chief Executive Officer of the Atomic Energy Council in Uganda, Noah Deogratias Luwalira told the Elephant that the implication of having the pending international treaties unsigned would make Uganda not benefit from some of the support associated with some of the Treaties which include rescue in case of Nuclear and Radiological Accident and this is specific to Convention on early Notifications and Assistance in case of Nuclear or Radiological accident among the pending treaties.
He also emphasized that in the long run, it waters Uganda’s commitment Internationally to Nuclear Safety and Security.
Audio File One. CEO Noah Deogratias on implications –Eng
Status of Uganda’s National Legal Framework on Nuclear Safety and Security:
Nationally, on the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety and Security, Uganda has in force already, the Atomic Energy Regulation (2012) and the Security of Radioactive Materials Regulation (2021) with over Twenty more being developed including a review of the Atomic Energy Act No.24 of 2008 to suit the current need like the setting of a nuclear power plant among others.
Audio File Two. CEO Noah Deogratias on Review-Eng
This is in line with Uganda being a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency established in 1957 to oversee peaceful applications of nuclear technology at the international level as a UN agency that compels all its member states to have Legal and Regulatory frameworks.
With the interest of setting up a nuclear energy power plant, Uganda needs to urgently comply with all the International Treaties by 2031.
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