Uganda Business, Economy and Infrastructure News

[yosef]

Nuclear is very efficient but very expensive, very sensitive.....and of course getting rid of the waste is always a problem

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by kihihi

Our hydro power potential is only 4000MW, the government is planning to increase power generation to over 10,000MW by end of decade from 500MW right now we therefore need to have other alternatives. Solar power technology is not advanced enough to meet our needs.
Although the nuclear power could delay because u see the trouble Iran is facing to develop nuclear power how do u think they will react to an African country.

Why need 10,000 MW? thats waaay beyond the needs. (But don't get me wrong, i love Nuke and i don't mind Uganda getting it.)

It has nothing to do with Iran issues. If a country wants Nuke, they should go for it. But only when its needed.

[kihihi]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Why need 10,000 MW? thats waaay beyond the needs. (But don't get me wrong, i love Nuke and i don't mind Uganda getting it.)

It has nothing to do with Iran issues. If a country wants Nuke, they should go for it. But only when its needed.

That is well within the needs of Uganda in ten years for several reasons.

We have a fast growing economy whose consumption of power is going to increase as right now there is power load-shedding as demand is not met by power supply.

Secondly many businesses plus customers consume less power than they require due to scarcity, there is a lot of power rationing so most likely with high power supply , companies will increase their production output i.e work for 24 hours thus increase power consumption.

Thirdly our penetration rate is low around 13% of population and there is still little power, so most likely as we connect more people the expected demand will increase.

[BUTEMBO21]

Thats good initiatives though. That will help the country industrialize faster. Manufacturers wants Power, Roads/Rail, Ports and security.. so yes to the Nuke. Its energy.

[desert burner]

infrastructure the way to go

[Yoniii]

Originally Posted by kihihi

Although the nuclear power could delay because u see the trouble Iran is facing to develop nuclear power how do u think they will react to an African country.

You won't have problem as long as you let international observers check your nuclear plants. Iran refuses, what are they trying to hide? If you don't have anything to hide, you won't have a problem.. but it's very expensive, first priority should be "green-energy".

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Yoniii

You won't have problem as long as you let international observers check your nuclear plants. Iran refuses, what are they trying to hide? If you don't have anything to hide, you won't have a problem.. but it's very expensive, first priority should be "green-energy".

Its actually not that expensive to build or get fuel. Its its the operations that are very complicated.

[Yoniii]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Its actually not that expensive to build or get fuel. Its its the operations that are very complicated.

Complicated knowledge is usually very expensive to get.

[BUTEMBO21]

Originally Posted by Yoniii

Complicated knowledge is usually very expensive to get.

True that.

Building is cheap. getting fuel easy. training Technicians easy. Now the Operations and safety, thats where countries sweat .

[u.g boy]

Originally Posted by egypt69

What about the Nile? Oh wait.....

But seriously, what about solar, wind power? Nuclear power is good, but very expensive and hard to maintian.

yep

[u.g boy]

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

Great, even tough i don'tlike Mu7.

But your 80% + Rural, why Nuke Energy?

in 2018 our urban population will be about 35 ./. . the latest censerwas this year . it says the urban population now is 20./.

[desert burner]

go for it

[u.g boy]

Originally Posted by desert burner

go for it

i want the country to stay eco freindly to be honest but if its the way forward then its a good idea.

[sseki2010]

Originally Posted by kihihi

KAMPALA, May 27 (Reuters) - The World Bank has offered Uganda $1.97 billion in concessional loans over the next five years to help finance the country's newly-launched National Development Plan (NDP), the World Bank said.

East Africa's third largest economy has been praised for weathering the impact of the global economic slowdown and maintaining a relatively strong growth momentum.

"The International Development Association (IDA) will commit an estimated $1.97 billion to support development projects and programs in Uganda," said the statement which was seen by Reuters on Thursday.

The development plan was launched in April and its implementation will cost an estimated 50 trillion. Uganda shillings.

Uganda had successfully maintained macroeconomic stability and "pursued reforms leading to impressive growth and poverty reduction over the past two decades,", the bank said in the statement.

The country still faces constraints, including high population growth, regional disparities, and weaknesses in governance and service delivery that are hampering its economic transformation efforts, the Washington-based bank added.

Uganda will use the money to expand public infrastructure, train its workforce and improve good governance.

"This coincides with a window of opportunity for Uganda to lay the groundwork for effective and transparent management of its future oil wealth, and improve service delivery," said Kundhavi Kadiresan, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda.

The east African nation discovered commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Albertine Rift Basin in the west along its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006 and reserves are estimated at 2 billion barrels. Commercial production is expected to commence in the last quarter of 2011. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Toby Chopra)

wish dat money aint stolen

[kihihi]

Uganda hopes to earn $400 million from the sale of Heritage Oil's (HOIL.L: Quote) assets to British exploration firm Tullow oil (TLW.L: Quote), President Yoweri Museveni told parliament on Wednesday.

"According to our laws the Heritage-Tullow transaction is supposed to attract 30 percent tax which means we'll get about $400 million," he said while delivering the annual state of the nation address.

However Museveni said Heritage wanted the capital gains tax burden reduced. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; editing by Richard Lough and Keiron Henderson)

[kihihi]

Over 890,000 sign up inside a year

The use of phones for small transactions has exploded across many developing nations, with Africa a particular success story.

MTN Uganda, working with Fundamo, has attracted nearly a million and expects the total to hit with more 2m users by the end of 2010, and 3.5m by 2012.

In just over a year MTN Uganda has registered 16% of its subscriber base. The service has garnered remarkable transaction and distribution statistics:

Other highlight stats include:

· $195 million USD through the platform since launch in March 2009
· 11.8 million transactions since launch in March 2009
· $21 USD average transaction – the average Ugandan person lives on under $1 USD a day (World Bank, 2007, *1)
· 1005 active agents and more than 2,500 direct sales reps
· More than 1,600 MTN MobileMoney service outlets
· Approximately 60 per cent of transfers are to recipients in rural areas - serving the unbanked

[u.g boy]

uganda economic growth


Energy Sector
Progress in the Energy sector is as follows:
(i)The procurement and installation of an additional 20 mgw Thermal Power Project in Tororo has brought the capacity of Thermal Power Projects to 170 mgw (50 mgw at Kiira power plant in Jinja, 50 mgw at Mutundwe in Kampala, and 50 mgw at Namanve in Kampala). Government continues to provide a subsidy to make the tariff affordable. Construction of another 50 mgw Heavy Fuel Oil thermal power plant in Jinja by Invespro is underway.

(ii) So far, on Bujagali Hydropower Project, civil works for the 250 mgw power plant are estimated to be 65% complete. The first unit of this project will be commissioned in October 2011 and full completion by April 2012.

(iii)Karuma Hydropower Project (700 mgw): Mr Speaker, following government’s decision to optimise the capacity of this project to 700 mgw from a capacity of between 200-250 mgw initially planned, a firm was engaged in October 2009 to study the various options, to carry out a feasibility study and engineering design. This hydropower plant will be constructed using funds from the Energy Fund as a Public Private Partnership. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011.


(iv)Isimba Hydropower Project 100 mgw: A consultant to carry out the feasibility study for the project was procured and construction is expected to start later this year. This project is the third plant to be developed in the medium term. Construction of Bugoye mini-hydro power plant (13 mgw) in Kasese was completed and commissioned in October 2009. Mr Speaker construction is on-going on the following:
•Mpanga (18mgw) Kamwenge
•Ishasha (6.5mgw) in Kanungu
•Buseruka (10mgw) in Hoima.

These plants will be commissioned later this year adding a total of 34.5 mgw to the national grid. Mr Speaker, government is carrying out a Hydropower Development Master Plan Study targeting sites above 50 mgw mainly along the River Nile. Construction of the Bujagali Interconnection Project is in progress. The project consists of a 220 kW transmission line from Bujagali to Kawanda and a 220/132 kW substation at Kawanda. In order to expand the national grid transmission network in the country, several other transmission projects are being developed.

Road sector
Mr Speaker, the following roads illustrate the progress:
(i)Reconstruction of Jinja-Bugiri completed;
(ii) Kampala Northern Bypass completed
(iii)Soroti-Dikolo-Lira completed;
(iv)Fort Portal-Bundibugyo-Lama border, work has started;
(v)Gulu-Atiak-Bibia/Nimule, procurement of the contractor started;
(vi)Ntungamo-Mirama Hill/Kagamba-Ishaka, work starts in November this year;
(vii)Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba, work is to start by August;
(viii) Nyakahita-Ibanda-Fort Portal, design work completed;
(ix)Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka Road, is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010;
(x)Muyembe-Namalu-Moroto, work will start in Nov.;
(xi)Gayaza-Zirobwe-Wobulenzi Road, to be completed in July 2010. Etc etc


all those coss country highway will be done by the end of this year including many roads in kampala.

(i)Rural Water Supply and Sanitation – Construction of eight water supply schemes, in Lugore in Gulu, Labara in Gulu, Madi-Opei in Kitgum, Minakulu in Oyam, Adwari in Lira, Orum in Lira, Magoro in Katakwi and Ayero in Apac.
(ii)Urban Water and Sanitation - Designs for the Water Supply Systems to serve Kabuga in Kamwenge District, Kakuuto in Rakai District and Kagongo in Ibanda District were finalised while construction in Rugaaga, Kabira and Mutara were completed.



National
Museveni tells Ugandans to be of good cheer


LISTEN: President Museveni addresses the nation yesterday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU
(email the author)

Posted Thursday, June 3 2010 at 00:00

Health

A ‘healthy nation is a wealthy nation’. Consequently, the importance of enhancing the functionality of health facilities cannot be over-emphasized. Key achievements include:
(i) All 11 regional referral hospitals have been provided with funds for capital development for rehabilitation.
(ii)The following hospitals are undergoing rehabilitation: Nebbi, Apac, Tororo, Bududa, Kambuga, Rushere and Itojo. The Health Centres of Masafu, Kyenjojo, Buwenge, Katakwi, Bukwo and Naguru are to be upgraded to general hospitals.
(i)Twenty seven hospitals were provided with ambulances. Twenty three Health Centre IVs were equipped with theatre equipment and ultrasound machines bringing the total number of equipped Health Centre IVs to 129.
(ii)Plans are underway to rehabilitate and equip Mulago National Referral Hospital to enable it handle cases that have hitherto been referred abroad. In order to decongest Mulago National Referral Hospital, two general hospitals are being constructed in Kampala and Makindye Divisions of Kampala District.

[Kenguy]

They forgot to mention the expansion of Entebbe road.

[u.g boy]

Originally Posted by Kenguy

They forgot to mention the expansion of Entebbe road.

oh yh i didnt right this up it was all together i just toook specific part i ll post the entebbe road projects its a big one

[u.g boy]

Economy on the rise, but more is needed
Thursday, 3rd June, 2010
E-mail article E-mail article Print article Print article

ON Wednesday President Yoweri Museveni delivered his State-of-the-Nation Address at Parliament. The address coincides with the opening of a new session — the fifth and final of the eighth Parliament.

Museveni’s speech emphasised the economy. He reported that the economy which stands at $18b (sh36 trillion) has speeded up over the last five years to an annual average growth of 8.4%. At that rate, the economy will double in size within the next nine years.

He said the exports of goods and services were up, as were foreign remittances – Kyeyo money, rebounding after the global financial crisis.

He also put Uganda’s revenue collections in perspective by showing they had grown a thousand-fold since 1986 to above sh5,000b this year.

There can be no doubt that Uganda’s economy is continuing on its prodigious growth path. But this economic growth is being enjoyed by a relatively small population centered around the urban areas.

An inability to distribute the growth equitably is a failure of the Government more than anything else.
The components of economic growth are consumption, government expenditure, investment and the net foreign trade flows.

The Government cannot and should not try to improve Ugandans’ welfare by dishing out money. But the distribution of this growth will be better enabled by improved government service provision in health care, education, infrastructure development and other public goods.

It is no secret that the Government’s service delivery has been found wanting and this is not for lack of money.

Corruption is short circuiting service delivery and the Government should focus more on this malaise by directing adequate resources at the law enforcement agencies.

It is conceivable that Uganda will continue to post fantastic growth figures, but for as long as corruption is allowed to fester, this progress will be the preserve of the urban elite.


by the way our economy at 18 billion was at 14.3 billion in 2008 . our gorwth is amazing . tanzania is at 20.3 billion and kenya is at 30.3 billion.


400 billion for new road to Entebbe

The government of Uganda is looking for about 400 billion shillings to construct another dual carriage road from Kampala to Entebbe.

The Minister of State for Works, John Byabagambi told the Parlaimentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure that the traffic volume on the current Kampala-Entebbe Road has over the past five years increased from 400,000 to about one million people and more than 15,000 vehicles per day.

He says the government is looking for money to begin the construction of the new 300km-road to Entebbe in 2011. Engineer Byabagambi says the road will have at least six lanes to enable smooth flow of the increasing traffic from and to Entebbe.

He said the ministry has already launched the process of identifying a consultant who will kick-start the project, including the number of people to be displaced by the new road, as well as how much they will be compensated.

The minister said the government will duly compensate all the people who will be displaced by the new road. He says the constitution gives the government powers to force anyone to give up his or her land or property for such public interest investments like a road.

Byagambi said the government fails to raise the money alone, it will undertake the project through either a Public Private Partnership arrangement, or sell the project to financiers (donors).