For the second year running, Busoga Yaiffe will be organizing the Busoga Olwekobaano and Energy Expo in Kaliro district. The three-day event will kick off on 5th November 2024 and climax on 7th November 2024 at the Taxi Park Yard & Green Belt area in Kaliro Town.
This theme for this year’s event is taking access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy to more places and people using strategic partnerships to generate socio-economic change and to ensure sustainable development in Eastern Uganda.
Dr Charles Mbalyohere, the President of Busoga Yaiffe, told Busoga Yaiffe in an interview that they are building on the successes of last year event to further sensitize the people of Busoga about the need to embrace the use of renewable energies like solar and biomass.
“We think that as the world is facing a major climate change crisis, as the weather is changing, we have to do something about how we use energy. It was a timely topic, even for us here in Busoga,” Mbalyohere said, adding: “We thought we should follow up in the second year and consolidate what we did last year. It’s important for not only the region but also the country and the global community.”
A conference discussing business ideas and opportunities, an exhibition showing the latest renewable energy products and technologies and a health camp to manage different health issues have been lined up to address the various energy needs of the 3000 people who are expected to turn up.
Mbalyohere revealed that various speakers, energy experts and industry regulators have been invited to speak at the conference while exhibitors showcasing solar, biomass and clean cooking technologies have booked their spaces waiting to interact with potential customers.
He said that services at the health camp, a Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Busoga Yaiffe, will be free. “We have partners like Rays of Hope, Hospice Jinja for cancer screening, especially for women, Musana Healthcare Services, World Vision, and the Kaliro District Health Office will come to support,” he noted.
Why the energy expo?
Mbalyohere explained the expo is a foundation to sensitize people about energy transition that is happening: the transition to using renewable energy and slowly getting away from fossil fuels. Many people need to understand what this means, he said.
“So there’s a lot of explanation, especially to everyday people. And I think we all have a responsibility in our different capacities to support the transition. The Olwekobaano, for us, is the possibility we have to contribute to the transition.”
“We know that it can make a practical change if people start using, for example, solar pumps for irrigation. If it is affordable, and people can use solar pumps to irrigate their farms throughout the year, even in the dry season, that can make a difference to their livelihoods.”
“Not only will we be helping the environment, we will also be helping people economically. I think those are good reasons for us to be inspired to start something.”
