By: Ismael Kasooha  

DUBAI

Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja (centre) witnessing the signing of the MoU in Dubai

Uganda signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a United Arab Emirates (UAE) government company, Masdar, last month to establish a 1,000 megawatts solar plant in the East African country.

The Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa signed the MoU on behalf of Uganda in the presence of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, during the UN COP28 summit in Dubai in December 2023.

Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, the Masdar Chief Executive Officer, signed the MoU on behalf of the company. The plant will be constructed in Bulambuli District in Eastern Uganda in phases. The Prime Minister said the power that will be generated by the plant will contribute to industrialisation by reducing electricity shortage.

“I am pleased, on behalf of H.E President Yoweri Museveni, to witness the signing of this MoU which is a key milestone to green Uganda and generate power that will help save our environment,” Nabbanja, who led Uganda’s delegation to the summit on behalf of the President, said.

The Prime Minister, added, “This investment in clean energy generation will accelerate development in the country and we are ready to start,”

Nankabirwa said the MoU will be followed by an agreement between the Government and Masdar. She added that the Government will soon provide Masdar with land where the plant will be established.

Hon. Judith Nabakooba, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said she will work closely with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to facilitate the development of the plant.

“As a Ministry of Lands, we want to assure you that we are ready as far as land for the project is concerned,” she added.

Jameel Al Ramahi, said they are looking forward to the development of the plant.

The Prime Minister also met with representatives from Nael & Bin Harmal Hydroexport LLC, an infrastructure company in the United Arab Emirates that expressed interest in investing in Uganda.

The Prime Minister told them there were numerous investment opportunities in Uganda, including in the field of infrastructural development.

END