Uganda exorbitantly paying for excess capacity (also
known as deemed energy) or idle capacity (Kojima and
Trimble, 2016: 20, 45; OAG Report, 2016; Okoboi &
Mawejje, Munyambonera, & Bategeka 2016). Consequently, the achievement of the overall target of the
2007 Renewable Energy Policy to diversify the energy
supply sources and technologies in the country from
4% to 61% by the year 2017 unsurprisingly failed and
still remains on paper.
3 MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study relied on secondary data sources and hence
adopted an integrative literature review approach.
Appropriate information and data were collected from
different sources such as government documents and
reports, scientific papers, and relevant project reports.
The key variables assessed included the overall policy performance objectives and targets, inputs and
outputs, and their degree of achievement of intermediate outcomes. Special focus was placed on establishing the nature of motivating success factors and
the respective bottlenecks encountered. A combination of random and purposive sampling methods was
deployed in selecting the target projects highlighted
in the Uganda’s Ministerial Policy Statements. Several progress reports of the government agencies
also provided relevant information. However, priority was given to assessing targets that were physically
verifiable and measurable.
Additionally, quite a significant amount of data was
sourced from case studies and a review of renewable energy project reports, Ministry of Energy and
Mineral Development reports, reports from Ministry
of Finance and Economic Development, reports from
the Parliamentary committee on natural resources,
the World Bank’s Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) database, Aid Data, and the China Africa
Research Initiative (CARI) project database. In addition, reports from the following government agencies: Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA), the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), were reviewed. Moreover,
reports from the following utilities: ESKOM Uganda,
UETCL, UMEME, independent power producers, as
well as relevant press reports and news articles were
studied. Finally, we consulted with some of the key
stakeholders within each of the relevant organizations,
including the GET-FiT Secretariat.
The data collected was analyzed based on a combination of approaches; first the research team reviewed
secondary data sources including but not limited to
the Energy Policy (2002) and the Renewable Energy
Policy (2007) targets. Subsequently, the research
team conducted a few key informant interviews with
selected project managers. A few call-backs were
made to some key informants aimed at triangulating
information that was critical in identifying the main
enablers and drawbacks to renewable energy policy
implementation.
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Enablers for renewable energy policy
implementation sustainability
4.1.1 Supportive legal and policy instruments
The implementation of the renewable energy policy
was guided by various legal and policy instruments, a
majority of which derive authority from the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, under Article XI, regarding the
promotion of energy policies to meet people’s energy
needs in an environment-friendly manner. Also among
these is The Atomic Energy Act, 2008 and the Electricity Act 1999 which specifically set out the legal
framework for reforms in the power sub-sector, the
Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan as well as the
regulatory framework for power generation from small
renewable energy sources. Some of the salient features of this law included the liberalization of the
electricity industry, the disbandment of the Uganda
Electricity Board (UEB) (historically a vertically integrated monopoly) into three entities (generation, transmission, and distribution), the establishment of the
Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to regulate
the sector, establishing the Rural Electrification Fund
(REF), with the main objective of enhancing rural
access to electricity, and the establishment of the Electricity Dispute Tribunal (EDT) that exercises powers
to hear and determine electricity sector disputes.
4.1.2 Growth in local organizational capacity
The government of Uganda, in collaboration with
international development partners occasionally
worked out joint mechanisms, structures, and systems that supported the development of renewable
energy in Uganda. This involved enlisting substantial participation of the private sector and NonGovernmental Organizations under Public Private
Partnership arrangements with a view to enhancing
investment in renewable and clean energy. The Global
Electricity Transfer Feed in Tariff (GET-FiT) Programme being one such intervention that sought to
promote the production of renewable energy from
the Independent Power Producers (IPPS). The Energy
Fund and Rural Electrification Fund (REF) were created to support, among other things, large-scale investment in renewable energy projects and increasing
connectivity, respectively. Subsidies and incentives,
such as energy rebates, long-term developed Standardized Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Renewable
Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT), as well as the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanisms all
seek to support the enhancement of the renewable
energy generation.
Additional capacity was provided under the Credit
Support Instruments (CSIs) by Uganda Energy Credit
Capitalization Company (UECCC), along with the
possibility of the availing credit for renewable energy
technologies (RETs) by commercial banks, including the soft loans provided by NGOs. Quality control
and certification was undertaken by Uganda National
Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Uganda National
219
known as deemed energy) or idle capacity (Kojima and
Trimble, 2016: 20, 45; OAG Report, 2016; Okoboi &
Mawejje, Munyambonera, & Bategeka 2016). Consequently, the achievement of the overall target of the
2007 Renewable Energy Policy to diversify the energy
supply sources and technologies in the country from
4% to 61% by the year 2017 unsurprisingly failed and
still remains on paper.
3 MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study relied on secondary data sources and hence
adopted an integrative literature review approach.
Appropriate information and data were collected from
different sources such as government documents and
reports, scientific papers, and relevant project reports.
The key variables assessed included the overall policy performance objectives and targets, inputs and
outputs, and their degree of achievement of intermediate outcomes. Special focus was placed on establishing the nature of motivating success factors and
the respective bottlenecks encountered. A combination of random and purposive sampling methods was
deployed in selecting the target projects highlighted
in the Uganda’s Ministerial Policy Statements. Several progress reports of the government agencies
also provided relevant information. However, priority was given to assessing targets that were physically
verifiable and measurable.
Additionally, quite a significant amount of data was
sourced from case studies and a review of renewable energy project reports, Ministry of Energy and
Mineral Development reports, reports from Ministry
of Finance and Economic Development, reports from
the Parliamentary committee on natural resources,
the World Bank’s Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) database, Aid Data, and the China Africa
Research Initiative (CARI) project database. In addition, reports from the following government agencies: Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA), the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), were reviewed. Moreover,
reports from the following utilities: ESKOM Uganda,
UETCL, UMEME, independent power producers, as
well as relevant press reports and news articles were
studied. Finally, we consulted with some of the key
stakeholders within each of the relevant organizations,
including the GET-FiT Secretariat.
The data collected was analyzed based on a combination of approaches; first the research team reviewed
secondary data sources including but not limited to
the Energy Policy (2002) and the Renewable Energy
Policy (2007) targets. Subsequently, the research
team conducted a few key informant interviews with
selected project managers. A few call-backs were
made to some key informants aimed at triangulating
information that was critical in identifying the main
enablers and drawbacks to renewable energy policy
implementation.
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Enablers for renewable energy policy
implementation sustainability
4.1.1 Supportive legal and policy instruments
The implementation of the renewable energy policy
was guided by various legal and policy instruments, a
majority of which derive authority from the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, under Article XI, regarding the
promotion of energy policies to meet people’s energy
needs in an environment-friendly manner. Also among
these is The Atomic Energy Act, 2008 and the Electricity Act 1999 which specifically set out the legal
framework for reforms in the power sub-sector, the
Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan as well as the
regulatory framework for power generation from small
renewable energy sources. Some of the salient features of this law included the liberalization of the
electricity industry, the disbandment of the Uganda
Electricity Board (UEB) (historically a vertically integrated monopoly) into three entities (generation, transmission, and distribution), the establishment of the
Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to regulate
the sector, establishing the Rural Electrification Fund
(REF), with the main objective of enhancing rural
access to electricity, and the establishment of the Electricity Dispute Tribunal (EDT) that exercises powers
to hear and determine electricity sector disputes.
4.1.2 Growth in local organizational capacity
The government of Uganda, in collaboration with
international development partners occasionally
worked out joint mechanisms, structures, and systems that supported the development of renewable
energy in Uganda. This involved enlisting substantial participation of the private sector and NonGovernmental Organizations under Public Private
Partnership arrangements with a view to enhancing
investment in renewable and clean energy. The Global
Electricity Transfer Feed in Tariff (GET-FiT) Programme being one such intervention that sought to
promote the production of renewable energy from
the Independent Power Producers (IPPS). The Energy
Fund and Rural Electrification Fund (REF) were created to support, among other things, large-scale investment in renewable energy projects and increasing
connectivity, respectively. Subsidies and incentives,
such as energy rebates, long-term developed Standardized Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Renewable
Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT), as well as the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanisms all
seek to support the enhancement of the renewable
energy generation.
Additional capacity was provided under the Credit
Support Instruments (CSIs) by Uganda Energy Credit
Capitalization Company (UECCC), along with the
possibility of the availing credit for renewable energy
technologies (RETs) by commercial banks, including the soft loans provided by NGOs. Quality control
and certification was undertaken by Uganda National
Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Uganda National
219