Through its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Government of Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an Argentine firm dealing in nuclear matters, hence marking a strategic collaboration towards the setting up of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology at Soroti University.
This partnership will primarily focus on site assessment and the design of the Centre, that will house a nuclear research reactor with the aim of promoting education and training in the field of nuclear science. The project is part of the bigger Energy Policy of Uganda for 2023, which requires the generation of 52,481 MW of power for the country’s future needs. Nuclear energy is supposed to contribute 24,000 MW of this total.
Establishment of the Nuclear Science Centre at Soroti University is observed as an integral step in the efforts of Uganda toward its energy security. Irene Batebe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, said this was an important development in harnessing atomic power to keep up with the country’s increasing energy demand.
Soroti University is one of the relatively new public institutions in the Eastern Region of Uganda and was established to widen access to higher education and contribute to regional development. With the strong inclination toward science and technology programs at Soroti University, this nuclear research project will be critical in the development of Uganda’s nuclear energy capabilities.
