Lokeris who also apologized to the nation for the current increased load shedding which has caused losses to people’s business and property says Uganda is to pay180 billion to Agreko if they accept to have the generators back on.

The country has a deficit of 150MW at peak time with current supply capacity of310mw during day to allow commercial and industrial operations but reduces to270mw during evening hence causing a deficit.

Meanwhile, he states that the country will continue experiencing power shortages even when the Bujagali dam is commission later this year or early next year.

The post Government negotiating with thermal power companies to reduce load shedding first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The groups who include women were arrested during a police operation yesterday night from the Dusta, William, and Wilson road in Kampala.

According to the metropolitan police spokesperson IBin Senkumbi , these have been conniving with sex workers to mug people at night when power goes off and steal their valuable.

Meantime, Police has urged UMEME to be considerate of some places before load shedding.

This follows an early morning chaos by business people operating at Nasser and Nkuruma who have been protesting a shortage of electricity for four days.

The metropolitan police spokesperson, Ibin senkumbi says that inconsiderate rationing of electricity is likely to cause chaos among the disgruntled electricity users.

Ultimate Media

The post Thugs taking advantage of load shedding first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The ministry attributes this to a new concept of fuel marking and quality monitoring program initiated by government in collaboration with petroleum organizations.

Sirero Bwokunda the head of petroleum testing laboratories in the ministry of energy and mineral development says the program has also helped to curb smuggling and dumping of transit cargo distain for Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
Bwokonda adds that marking alone is not enough if the products are not tested and oil companies are given monitoring reports of their testing results.

He was speaking at the fuel marking and quality monitoring program stakeholders meeting at Imperial royal hotel in Kampala.

Speaking at the same occasional, the head of criminal investigation department (CID) in police Edward Ocom noted that several challenges remain in the fuel industry.

Ocomu also called on authorities to carry out an impact assessment to ascertain the gravity of fuel alteration and its impact.
He also said culprits who are caught for altering fuel should be exposed to the public. Ochom noted that the statutory instrument 2009 on petroleum marking and quality control regulation does not offer punitive measures against such offenders.

He suggested payment of fines from 25 currency points in case of the first time offender and revocation of incorporating license of the petroleum products in case of the second offender.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

The post Fuel alterations concerns persist in Uganda first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The committee whose members are yet to be named will among others investigate the funding of the thermal power generation project.

Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko tabled before Parliament the motion seeking parliamentary approval to probe the energy sector.

Electric power connection

He told fellow legislators that the underhand dealings in the energy sector require a comprehensive probe by a committee of Parliament.

With support from MPs Katooto Hatwib, Cerenah Nebandah and Opposition Chief Whip Winnie Kiiza, the legislator highlighted the need for proper accountability on funds spent by government on subsidies to the energy sector.

In April 2011, Parliament approved 92 billion Uganda shillings as supplementary expenditure for the energy sector.

MPs are enraged by the current power rates and the rampant load shedding that has grossly affected the economy.

The probe follows a standoff between Parliament and the joint Finance and Energy Ministries over a 61 billion shillings subsidy for the thermal power subsidy.

The funds earlier blocked on the floor of Parliament have been blocked by the Parliament joint committees on budget and natural resources.

A report of the Parliament Budget committee noted that the funds would enable government partially offset outstanding arrears amounting to 207 billion Uganda shillings.

Tim Lwanga the chairperson of the budget Committee told Parliament that it would be irregular for Parliament to approve the expenditure of 61billion Uganda shillings over and above the funds provided for in the ministry budget.

State Minister for Finance Aston Kajara told Parliament that government requires 455 billion Uganda shillings to offset the total power subsidy for the 2011/2012 financial year.

The funds he said are urgently required  to subsidize thermal power generation until Bujagali hydro electricity power plant whose operations have been  pushed to October 2011 becomes operational

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Parliament sets up committee to probe Uganda energy sector first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

President Yoweri Museveni

Uganda remains pre-dominantly an agricultural country. The Uganda agricultural sector employs over 80 percent of the country’s labour force but poor farming methods, lack of market for Uganda’s agricultural produce, limited processing and preservation technology has not helped the country get out of poverty.

In a meeting with the investors at Uganda State House recently, Museveni said that investments in agro-processing is key toUganda’s economic development and growth because according to him, ‘food is the real fuel for humans.’

Albatros Energy is a multinational company which is planning to construct a Diesel power plant in the Eastern Uganda district of Tororo. The investors are constructing a 230mw power plant that will be operational in the next 18 months.

The power plant will help reduce the current power crisis and help stimulate Uganda’s industrial sector. The Uganda power crisis has been blamed on high fuel prices and limited power generating plants.

Also see

Smallholder farmers expect more from World Food Program’s Purchase for Progress

Action Aid calls for better agricultural policies to help Uganda rural women

Museveni says Uganda to get a uniform education structure, improve agriculture

Uganda increases funding for agriculture in 2010/2011 budget

Countries Turn to Agro Processing

Solomon Akugizibwe, Ultimate Media

The post Uganda president Museveni calls for more investments in agro-processing first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Uganda oil exploration (NV)

This follows continued public outcry as a result the government’s refusal to make the oil agreements signed with Tullow Oil Company public.

The General Manager of Tullow Company Dr. Brian Clover told Ultimate media in Kampala that Tullow Oil as a company has no problem with publishing the oil production agreements.

Clover says there is nothing that should be kept secret about these agreements because they are in favor of the government.

He says that since the government is expected by the public to be accountable to the public, it should publish the agreements to ensure transparency.

Early this year Uganda court dismissed a petition filled by two Uganda journalists Mr Mpagi and Mr Izama seeking for disclosure of information regarding oil agreements to empower the public to participate in government decisions that affect them for efficient, transparent and accountable use of the petroleum resources discovered in Uganda.

By Tiberindwa Zakaria

Ultimate Media

The post Tullow oil urges government to publish Uganda oil agreements first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.