KAMPALA | WATCHDOG — Uganda’s energy transition should be measured not merely by the number of power grid connections, but by how access to reliable energy transforms everyday lives, climate change and energy experts have cautioned.
The call was made during a media capacity-building workshop organized by Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green (ULHGG) under the REPower Uganda Advocacy Working Group. The session aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE), energy equity, and climate resilience across the country.
Bringing together environmental advocates, media practitioners, and policy stakeholders, the engagement addressed how energy access directly impacts critical sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and small business growth.
Beyond Installation Figures
Speaking at the event, Mr. Anthony Walimbwa, Country Head of Climate Action Network Uganda, emphasized that while DRE solutions—such as solar mini-grids, solar home systems, and solar water pumps—are vital for off-grid communities, physical installation is only the first step.
“Expanding access requires more than mounting solar panels,” Walimbwa stated. “We must evaluate affordability, long-term maintenance, availability of spare parts, and local technical skills.
Journalists must ask: can the community actually afford this power, and what happens when the system breaks down?”
Civil society and climate expert Mr. Emmy Kabishanga urged journalists to bridge the gap between official government infrastructure announcements and the lived realities of citizens.
“Reliable energy should mean a child studying past sunset, a health center refrigeration unit preserving vaccines, or a farmer irrigating crops during a drought,” Kabishanga noted. “Reporting must track whether access genuinely improves household income and standard of living.”
Inclusive Access and Youth Involvement
Miss Hanna Rhoda Nabayunga, a youth and gender climate activist, stressed the necessity of gender and age-inclusive energy policies. She highlighted that reliable power drives digital literacy for children and opens economic ventures for women and youth in rural settings.
Aligning with ULHGG’s core mission of environmental conservation education, Nabayunga noted that young people should not remain passive consumers of climate policy. Instead, they must be actively integrated into energy planning and decision-making processes.
Investigating Project Claims
Media consultant Mr. Eddie challenged journalists to adopt a critical investigative lens—dubbed the “Different Eyes, Different Ears” approach—when covering renewable energy rollouts.
“When a solar-powered irrigation or health initiative is launched, reporting should not end at the ribbon-cutting,” he explained. “Follow up to determine how many farmers are actively using the system, the actual cost to consumers, and whether the service remains functional after months or years.”
He added that while renewable energy plays a key role in climate mitigation and adaptation, project claims must be verified with concrete data rather than taken at face value.
A Call for Accountable Journalism
The engagement concluded with a unified call for Ugandan media to hold decision-makers, development partners, and project implementers accountable. As Uganda accelerates its national energy transition, experts agreed that the true metric of success lies in whether energy is affordable, dependable, and equitable.
By looking beyond PR announcements and following evidence-based impact on the ground, the media can ensure Uganda’s energy development delivers lasting benefits to all citizens.
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