Gov’t to Release Ugx 1 trillion for New Nuclear Science Center

The government has committed 1 trillion Shillings for the construction of Uganda’s first centre for training and research in nuclear science at Soroti University. 

The CNST project, implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in collaboration with Soroti University, began in 2023.

The centre will include several facilities, such as a multipurpose research reactor that produces radioisotopes necessary for treating cancer at Mulago Hospital. It will also produce materials used in various industries, road construction, and the agricultural sector. Additionally, the centre will feature a nuclear fabrication facility and a waste management component.

Additionally, the facility will include a nuclear fabrication unit and a waste management component.  

To support the initiative, the university has allocated over 40 acres of land, aiming to enhance the skills and knowledge of Ugandans in nuclear science.

The Energy State Minister Sidroneous Okaasai announced that the initial investment of 1 trillion Shillings will be released for the first phase, primarily focused on developing the necessary accommodations for the facility.  

He said that his ministry has entered into a memorandum of understanding with a nuclear company from Argentina to help develop the centre.

Currently, the company is conducting studies and building infrastructure, including a hotel with 100 rooms specifically designed for training and housing visiting professors. This will allow students pursuing advanced degrees to have a focused environment, free from distractions.

Okaasai indicated that the second phase will prioritise building laboratories and training facilities, establishing the centre as a premier training hub in East and Central Africa.

Funding for this phase will come from the government, along with potential borrowing from other sources. He emphasised the urgency of the project, highlighting the critical role of energy in driving the country’s economic transformation.

Soroti is set to host a nuclear research reactor, which will facilitate the development of medicines, enhance disease diagnostics, and support minerals technology.

Additionally, this initiative will bolster agricultural pest and disease control and aims to cultivate a workforce of over 30,000 scientists necessary for operating future nuclear plants across the country.

The minister also revealed that the curriculum for training has been finalised.  

The university vice chancellor, Prof. John Robert Ikoja Odongo, stated that a feasibility study was expected to commence on the 45 acres of allocated land, but no progress was made.

But Project contract manager Derrick Cheriberi assured stakeholders that the project remains on schedule, with bidding expected between 2026 and 2027. 

Implementation and construction will run from 2027 to 2029, and the official commissioning and operational phase is set to begin in 2030. Ends