PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered the ministry of energy to halt any deals for the exploitation of uranium. He also instructed for the setting up of an atomic energy unit within the ministry.

The directives are contained in the resolutions passed at the end of a five-day retreat of NRM MPs at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.

The retreat called for “the development of a nationalistic oil, gas and mineral policy and use their revenues for the present and future generations,” according to a press statement by the party Secretary General, Amama Mbabazi.

“In this regard, the President directed that the energy ministry halts giving out concessions for the exploitation of the
newly found uranium deposits in the country. He further directed the energy ministry to establish a nuclear unit in the ministry.”

Uranium, used for nuclear reactors and bombs, was first discovered in Uganda in 2004. A recent report by the ministry of energy estimates the uranium-rich areas to be 18,000 km2 in Buganda-Toro region, 12,000 km2 in Karagwe-Ankole area, 5,000 km2 between Lake Albert and Lake Kyoga, 5,000 km2 around Lake Edward, 900 km2 on the Buhwezu plateau and 12,000 km2 in Lake Albert.