Free Access | 2024-04-12

How can renewable energy development trigger violent conflict in Uganda?

Authors/Editors: Linda Nakato (PhD)

Abstract:

Renewable energy consumption and production are rising across African countries, and Uganda is no exception. Uganda relies on a mixture of sources to meet the energy needs of its population. According to the World Bank, less than half (42%) of the Ugandan population has access to electricity. As a result, most Ugandans rely on biomass to meet their daily energy needs. Electricity generation has historically been based primarily on hydropower and remains so due to its large riverine resources (including the Nile River). The government’s Renewable Energy Policy of 2007 and its 2022 Energy Policy both prioritize increasing the country’s use of renewable energy sources. Uganda is ranked number 13 in Africa’s total installed hydropower capacity (IHA, 2022). Whereas the development of renewable energy projects brings benefits, especially for the surrounding communities and the country at large, it also causes negative effects ranging from cultural, socio-economic, and environmental aspects, particularly when the development process is poorly managed. As such, there is a need to understand the unique pathways by which renewable energy conflicts can occur and the mechanisms required to prevent and resolve them. This policy brief is an excerpt from the study “Green Curses and Violent Conflicts: The Security Implications of Renewable Energy Sector Development in Africa” conducted by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), Uganda, in collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo, Environmental Law Institute, Norwegian University of Life Sciences and University of Massachusetts Boston. The study was based on qualitative research methods. The study sought to examine how renewable energy development can trigger violent conflicts and how these can be mitigated. The research team interviewed host communities of two purposively selected hydropower project developments and stakeholders through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The hydropower projects used as cases for this study were Karuma Hydroelectric Power Station, at Karuma Falls on the Nile River in Kiryandongo district, and Isimba Hydroelectric Power Station, in Kayunga district in Eastern Uganda on the Nile River