ERA, Prisons sign agreement to use electricity while cooking

The Electrical energy Regulatory Authority (Period) has signed a memorandum of being familiar with (MOU) with the Uganda Prisons Products and services that will see the latter changeover from using biomass to energy while cooking. 

The memorandum was signed at the Electricity Regulatory Authority offices on Wednesday in Kampala. 

The agreement is a single of the initiatives the govt is undertaking to maximize electricity use and help save the natural environment. 

“We use about 30 tonnes of firewood each calendar year for cooking in our prisons. This financial calendar year, we are to commit over sh1.6b on firewood alone,” Samuel Akena, an Assistant Commissioner Common of Prisons mentioned on Wednesday. 

Samuel Akena, an Assistant Commissioner Common of Prisons claims the Uganda Prisons Expert services uses around 30 tonnes of firewood per year. (Photo by Benon Ojiambo)

“The job presents notable benefits like reduction in air pollution connected with cooking employing firewood and enhanced wellbeing by eliminating inhalation of smoke throughout the cooking course of action,” Eng. Ziria Waako, the Period main govt officer reported. 

Uganda currently has an installed generation potential of 1,252MW but only 745MW is consumed at peak. 

This is the 2nd establishment to advantage less than the arrangement in which govt facilities are to be little by little transitioned to working with electricity for cooking. 

Last calendar year, Mwanamugimu nutrition device at Mulago medical center was transitioned. 

A lessen tariff of 454 shillings has been set for establishments as an incentive for the changeover and this is anticipated to more be lessened with the boost in consumption. 

Uganda has over 67,000 prisoners unfold across 254 institutions whose meals are majorly geared up applying firewood. Officials believe this would make the institution primary for the pilot.