Overview
In its Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, the UN is seeking to achieve universal access to affordable clean energy by 2030. As Uganda moves to attain middle-income status by 2020, emphasis has, among others, been put on the energy sector and rightly so as the energy sector greatly contributes to all productive and social sectors of the economy.
Objective
The overall objective of the Electricity Democracy programme is to promote adequate, accessible, reliable, clean and sustainable electricity services that are affordable to citizens for improved livelihoods and national development. With achievement of this objective, Uganda will be able to meet her own energy goals and those of the UN.
To achieve the programme objective, AFIEGO largely creates public awareness on the rights to electricity. People’s understanding and involvement in electricity decision-making processes is critical to realising good governance in the electricity sector. There is still currently widespread exclusion of people’s involvement in the electricity sector; exclusion leads to inadequate or no public participation in management of electricity services in Uganda and this perhaps explains the ever increasing electricity tariffs in the country.
AFIEGO conducts research and analyses of government strategies to develop the sector and their socio-economic impact on electricity consumers, thereafter monitoring progress of these strategies and performing an advisory role.
AFIEGO also plays a watch dog role over the electricity sector, working to push for more pro-poor clean energy policies. Focus is put on gender and energy, assessment of the progress of implementation of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) and implementation of government energy programmes such as the Rural Electrification programme and hydro-power projects among others.
AFIEGO also engages in public interest litigation and influencing of energy policies to benefit Ugandans among others.