Africa-Press – Uganda. Stakeholders in Uganda’s nuclear energy sector have urged government to fast-track compensation, improve public sensitisation, and close information gaps as plans for the Buyende nuclear power project advance.
The call was made on Thursday during a stakeholder listening session organised by WePlanet Africa at Hotel Triangle in Kampala.
The event brought together leaders, and community representatives to discuss concerns around the proposed nuclear power plant in Buyende District.
Participants said while nuclear energy is central to Uganda’s long-term plan to boost electricity generation and industrialisation, delays in compensation and limited public awareness risk slowing down implementation and weakening public trust.
WePlanet Africa Coordinator Patricia Nanteeza said the engagement was meant to capture community concerns and improve how information on nuclear energy is communicated to the public and media.
She noted that many Ugandans still depend on charcoal and firewood, saying about 32,000 deaths annually are linked to indoor air pollution from biomass use.
Ms Nanteeza said even some leaders still lack clear understanding of nuclear energy, calling for a centralised platform for accurate information sharing.
“There is still a major information gap. Even some leaders do not clearly understand nuclear energy,” Ms Nanteeza said.
She further urged government to urgently resolve compensation issues, saying uncertainty is affecting livelihoods in project-affected areas.
“People need to know how much they will be paid and when. Their lives are on hold,” she said.
She warned that failure to improve communication could undermine public confidence in the project.
“If we do not communicate clearly, people will fill the gap with fear and misinformation,” she said.
“We need one trusted source where the public and journalists can access accurate and consistent information,” she added.
Veronica Babirye Kadogo, a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, said nuclear energy is critical to meeting Uganda’s growing electricity demand driven by industrial expansion.
She said power instability in regions such as Busoga continues to affect industrial performance despite rising investments in the area.
Ms Babirye also warned that misinformation remains widespread, with some members of the public confusing nuclear power generation with nuclear weapons.
Buyende District Woman MP-elect Sarah Namulondo said uncertainty over compensation has disrupted daily life, with some residents avoiding their gardens for fear of sudden eviction.
She called on government to fast-track compensation payments, saying delays are worsening anxiety and affecting land use planning.
Ms Namulondo also urged government to ensure local communities directly benefit from the project through jobs and improved infrastructure such as roads, schools and electricity.
Uganda’s nuclear energy programme targets up to 24,000 MW of installed capacity in the long term, with Buyende District earmarked as the site of the country’s first nuclear power plant.
The project is expected to start with a demonstration reactor before scaling up to about 8,400 MW, with an initial 1,000 MW targeted for connection to the national grid by 2031 under government’s roadmap.
