The government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has launched the resettlement action plan study (RAP) for the Buyende Nuclear Power Project.
During a stakeholder’s meeting at Kasaato village Kidera subcounty Buyende district the first Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga encouraged the local community to embrace this important government project and participate in its undertaking right from the studies that are going to be conducted to ensure that it benefits Ugandans .
“Uganda has been blessed with abundance of energy resources including hydropower, biomass, solar, uranium and fossil fuels and these resources have the potential to fuel the growth and industrialization of our communities and country at large hence achieving the socio-economic development goal.” Kadaga noted .
Deputy PM , Kadaga
She further stressed the challenges that arise with such huge projects like nuclear power project.
“We must recognize that such large projects come with the challenge of resettling people from areas where they currently live and work ,and it is an inevitable reality when developing projects of this magnitude, therefore the government is so committed to ensuring that this process is done with due consideration for the affected communities.” Kadaga said.
The Permanent Secretary at the energy Ministry , Eng. Irene Bateebe , stressed that it is important that the resettlement action plan study is conducted and implemented to enhance the development impact of the project hence improving the living standards of the affected people.
Head communications and Corporate Affairs At Energy Ministry Dr. Patricia Litho
“Construction of the 8400mw Buyende Nuclear project will require about 30.1sqkm of land and this will result in the involuntary resettlement of residents in Kasaato and surrounding villages in Kidera subcounty, this will affect the social and cultural continuity of affected communities including those host communities to which displaced populations maybe resettled,” Bateebe explained .
Buyende being the pilot in Uganda’s nuclear power project program, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development prepared an energy policy 2023 where government projects to produce 52000mw of energy/electricity to be generated by 2040 out of which nuclear will contributing 24000mw.
“ The ministry considered several aspects to select allocation for the project among which were hydro/ water source and the area to be sparsely populated –this was the criteria applied to earmark the Buyende nuclear power plant site plus seven other potential sites.” Denis Tusiime.
The resettlement action plan (RAP) is a vital tool in managing the social, economic and environmental aspects of resettlement which is designed to identify the needs of those who will be directly affected by the project.
