Jude Kamuganga, a magistrate at Arua City Court, on Thursday graduated with a Master of Energy Economics and Governance during the ceremony at Makerere University.
Studies in energy economics were introduced at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in the academic year 2018/2019 and classes began in January 2019.
Magistrate Kamuganga said the course has helped him understand better the energy sector in Uganda.
“As a lawyer by profession, I believe I needed knowledge pertaining to renewable energy, oil and gas and climate change, since they are new areas in our country. Lawyers require varied knowledge in private practice and judicial work, among others,” he said in an interview on Thursday.
Despite not having a background of maths or economics at undergraduate level, Magistrate Kamuganga excelled in all course units, including; Mathematical Economics, Microeconomics, Engineering Economics and Econometrics.
According to Prof Moses Muhwezi, the Deputy Principal of Makerere University Business School (Mubs), studies in energy governance are necessary at the time when the country moving towards development of its oil and gas sector as well as the need to use existing energy sources sustainably.
In the same course, two students obtained PhDs. The PhD graduands are Vincent Fred Ssennono and Slyvia Manjeri Aarakit.
“We have graduated two PhDs in energy economics and governance. As a country, this is the first time this course is coming to look at the governance issues, the economic sense, energy utilisation and the local revenues from utilizing energy,” he said in an interview.
According to Prof Muhwezi, Uganda is the first country in the East African Community to introduce the Energy Economics and Governance course, which looks into economic sense of using and managing the different sources of energy.
Prof Muhwezi also said currently, there is lack of integrated planning in the energy sector amid climate change effects.
He added that there is insufficient public awareness about opportunities and potential in the energy sector, which is also worsened by inadequate knowledge on mineral availability in Uganda.
According to Prof Muhwezi, currently, government has set targets of the amount of energy to be produced by 2040 from different energy sources, which can only be possible if the population is well educated in the field.
He said it is important for Ugandans to have basic knowledge in the field of energy science, energy challenges and future prospects, fossil fuels and renewable energy resources, sustainable energy management, technology and innovation because it is the source of clean jobs that contribute to preserving environment quality.
In 2017, Mubs and NORHED II entered into a partnership to begin teaching a Master in Energy Economics and Governance (MEEG) and a PhD in Energy Economics and Governance (PEEG).
NORHED is a project for capacity building in higher education funded by NORAD, the Norwegian Agency for Development. The courses started in the academic year 2018/2019 but classes began in January 2019.