President Yoweri Museveni has said that Uganda harbours no hidden motives for developing nuclear technology except for using it as a cheaper alternative source of electricity. He noted that nuclear is cleaner energy compared to fossil fuels and cheaper than solar which has become inefficient for most African countries.
The President was Wednesday afternoon meeting the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano at State House Entebbe.
They discussed activities related to IAEA technical cooperation programme in Uganda ahead of the official commissioning of the cobalt 60 cancer machine at the cancer Institute in Mulago.
“Unless solar is a cheaper alternative, we shall have to use nuclear. What is important is to master nuclear technology. Already we are training our people in this field,” President Museveni said.
He said that Africa’s rivers combined might not be able to sufficiently provide hydro electricity to the continent’s growing population, adding that many countries can not opt for solar given their cloud cover.
“Lets be open minded on this. What we want is electricity for our people’s welfare. We are ready to work with you. We have no hidden agenda,” Museveni said.
The President opposed the idea of developed countries like the USA placing restrictions on the other countries seeking to develop their nuclear capabilities. He equally criticized countries advancing nuclear weapons which he described as unsustainable and provocative.
“There are two confused groups in the use of nuclear. Those who say they have a right to the monopoly of weapons of mass destruction and those who push for nuclear weapons. How can a civilized person talk like that? This doctrine is so provocative and unsustainable. Why would big countries push for monopoly instead of disarmament? I cannot believe that civilized people can be so irrational. For us we just want electricity,” he said.
While he higlighted other uses of nuclear such as vector control and cancer treatment, he said that these are only subsidiaries to a broader purpose of energy.
“Vector control and cancer treatment are subsidiary. The main issue is energy resource. Nuclear is clean energy, better than fossil fuels. At policy and strategic level, lets have convergence use,” he said.
On his part, DG Yukiya Amano said as IAEA, they are doing a lot in making nuclear energy for peaceful use and is already supporting Uganda in implementing projects that use nuclear for peaceful purposes for the wellbeing of the people.
“People are not aware that you can use nuclear very peacefully for the well being of humanity. We use nuclear to treat cancer. In Uganda, our people came to improve and get involved with technical support in installing the new cobalt cancer machine,” Amano said.
“In agriculture, we are already using drones on one of the islands on lake victoria to use sterilization to eradicate tsetse flies. This is the first time to use this technology anywhere in the world,” he added.
Amano said they can also use drones to monitor water levels and pollution. He said the IAEA delegation was in Uganda to talk to decision and policy makers, doctors, scientists on how to use nuclear to improve people’s welfare.
“Every source of energy has advantages and disadvantages. Nuclear is stable with a lot of energy but you need very good preparations. The important issues are; public acceptance, money and technology. IAEA is very happy to work with you and help you at every level,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Shaukat Abdulrazak the director TCAF, division for Africa in the department of Technical Cooperation, Uganda’s Minister of State for Energy Eng. D’Ujanga Simon, the Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng among others.
