The Ugandan Foreign Minister Abubaker Jeje Odongo recently revealed that the East African country is looking to negotiate a nuclear deal with Russia.
The Minister divulged to the Russian newspaper Sputnik that the deal would involve the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uganda.
This new development is in line with Russia’s recent energy campaign in Africa. In July, the Russian-state owned energy company Rosatom signed a nuclear deal with Congo.
Earlier in June, Russia and the Republic of Guinea partnered on a nuclear project. They signed a memorandum of understanding in St. Petersburg to develop floating nuclear power stations.
These sorts of deals have been very synonymous in Africa over the last few years, as African countries weigh the potential of a partnership with Russia, over the Western markets.
The Ugandan minister relayed that the deal stems from the fact that the demand for energy in Africa is increasing, particularly for industrialization.
He went on to say that the African country values nuclear energy.
Earlier in October, on the margins of the International Youth Festival, Uganda’s Minister of Energy, Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, had disclosed that the government had begun comprehensive planning to choose a location for a nuclear power plant and was looking into uranium deposits.
Opolot also revealed that Uganda inked a memorandum of understanding with Rosatom. Previous study was done on the project.
Minister Abubaker Jeje Odongo led a ministerial delegation to the First Ministerial Russia-Africa Partnership Forum which was held from November 9–10, 2024, in Sochi, Russia.
He was accompanied by Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Minister of State for Trade.
