Government has successfully shifted from using grid as a source of energy for water supply to solar-powered systems to address the problem of limited access to water for home use and irrigation across the country.
The old practice of using electricity to extract ground water (wells and springs) and surface water (streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs) has been ditched due to its high costs of power supply. The electric water pumps rely on diesel to run their systems. These further need constant repairs, fuelling, and constant servicing.’ The grid-powered projects are also being ditched for highly contributing to the emission of carbon dioxide and environment pollution.
The shift to solar-powered water pumping is regarded by the World Bank as“technologically proven to be operationally, financially, and environmentally sustainable”.
In its 2017 publication on solar water pumping, the World Bank stated that prices for the solar panels used in water projects had dropped. They also“require lttle maintenance, making solar water pumping an extremely viable way to expand energy access across developing countries and communities, while creating a strong resistance to shifts in rainfall caused by climate change or unreliable seasonable
patterns”.
With the new technology adopted by the Ministry of Water and Environment, there are strides recorded by the directorate of water development, especially in eastern Uganda.
In Katakwi District alone, there are numerous solar powered schemes changing people’s lives. One of them is the hybrid solar system in Alukucok village which is operated and maintained by the eastern umbrella whose regional ofces are located in Mbale City.
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