SDGs: Govt calls for collaborative effort to address energy poverty
Isabirye said the ministry has set productive use of energy as a priority, adding that for the first time, the country's recently adopted National Development Plan (IV) now has a full pillar on productive use of energy.
Dr Brian Isabirye said failure to increase energy access will hamper performance on six Sustainable Development Goals including goal three (health), goal six (water and sanitation), goal eight (work and economic growth), goal 11 (sustainable cities) and thirteen (limit and adapt to climate change) as well as goal twelve (responsible consumption and production). This was during a workshop on the Productive Use of Solar Energy (PUSE) at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Credit: John Masaba)
John Masaba
Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Government has called for collaborative efforts to increase the adoption of renewable energy in the country, saying without this, the socio-economic transformation will be slower and that Uganda could fail to perform in at least six Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Brian Isabirye, the commissioner of renewable energy at the energy ministry, named these as Goal Three (health), Goal Six (water and sanitation), Goal Eight (work and economic growth), Goal 11 (sustainable cities) and 13 (limit and adapt to climate change) as well as 12 (responsible consumption and production).
He was speaking during a workshop on the Productive Use of Solar Energy (PUSE) at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on March 13, 2025.
The event was organised by the non-governmental organisations Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and Heifer International Uganda.
According to Isabirye, a recent study done by the National Planning Authority shows that of all the drivers of socioeconomic transformation, energy ranked first.
"That goes to explain why multi-actor engagement is important. The intention is collective action," he said.
He said the ministry has set productive use of energy as a priority, adding that for the first time, the country's recently adopted National Development Plan (IV) now has a full pillar on productive use of energy.
He said this has provided for affirmative action for renewable energy development, including solar energy.
Energy policy of 2023
"Also within our revised energy policy of 2023, we have a section reserved to productive use of energy and a road map we worked on with Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA) and partners on productive use of solar also provides for this, " he said, calling on partners to help in addressing the barrier of access to finance.
He said that continues to be "our challenge as government."
Adding: "If you don't provide opportunities that can unlock the cost, then adoption of these technologies becomes a challenge".
According to Isabirye, a recent study done by the National Planning Authority recently showed that of all the drivers of socioeconomic transformation, energy ranked in the first place. (Credit: John Masaba)
Energy poverty
With a population of over 45.9 million people, and despite an abundance of clean energy sources, Uganda is grappling with energy poverty, that is limited access to modern energy services, including electricity, and significant barriers to reliable and affordable energy.
According to data from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), Uganda's electricity access stands at approximately 60 per cent of the population in urban areas and a dismal 18 per cent in rural areas. Less than five per cent of the entire population has access to clean cooking solutions.