Uganda's Path to Energy Access - Is it Climate Friendly?

Abstract

Only 18 percent of Ugandans have access to energy. Compare this to 100 percent access in the similarly sized United Kingdom or 23 percent for their neighbors in Kenya. Uganda does not have energy security, or “the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” Climate concerns, such as droughts, floods, intense rainfall, or heat-waves, stress Uganda’s developing electric grid and obstruct growth. Uganda’s new energy infrastructure, recent oil discoveries, and unique climate initiatives make it an excellent case study to observe the balance between energy, climate, and national security concerns. Five questions may help reconcile tensions between security and climate: What are Uganda’s energy security concerns? How have they dealt with these? Have these attempts succeeded? How do attempts look through a climate “lens?” Ultimately, this research offers a case study of Uganda’s “policy package” for energy access, highlighting bright spots of local climate change innovation as well as shortfalls of government corruption and international meddling, concluding with three recommendations on how Uganda could best move their goal of energy access forward.