President Yoweri Museveni has called on Ugandan engineers and leaders to focus on calculating and increasing the country’s energy capacity as he commissioned the long-awaited Karuma Hydropower Plant. The president stressed the importance of ensuring that Uganda’s energy generation keeps pace with the growing demands of the population.
While speaking at the event today , President Museveni pointed out that while the country has made significant strides in increasing its power supply, more needs to be done. “Go and look at the internet for the kWh per capita of the US, Europe, and other places,” Museveni said. He emphasized that Uganda needs to know where it stands in comparison to other nations in terms of energy production per person. “Our engineers should calculate and tell us what the kWh per capita of Uganda is. Don’t say we have enough power just because we are commissioning this hydropower plant.”
The president’s remarks reflect his concern about the future energy needs of Uganda, especially in light of its rapidly growing population. He projected that in 30 years, Uganda’s population would reach around 100 million. Museveni, now 80 years old, humorously added that by that time, he would likely “be in Heaven,” but noted that his family has a history of longevity. “In 20 years from now, I’ll be 100 years of age. But you never know, because my uncle died at 106.”
The commissioning of the 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Plant is a significant milestone in Uganda’s infrastructure development and is expected to provide much-needed electricity to fuel industrialization and economic growth. However, Museveni’s comments highlight that even with these developments, the country must continue planning for the future as its population and energy needs increase.
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