A comparative analysis between South Africa and Uganda’s energy policies and their effect on the development of infrastructure

Abstract

Africa has 620 million people living with an energy poverty burden especially in sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of South Africa. The lack of adequate energy resource has hindered development and contributed to abject poverty in Africa. South Africa is an exception with only 14.7% of its population lacking access to electricity, which makes it a model country compared to Uganda whose statistics are the reverse with 85% of Ugandans having no access to electricity especially in rural communities. The research examines the influence of policy on infrastructure development by comparing South Africa and Uganda’s Energy Sectors in terms of policy objectives, achievements and challenges by sampling four energy policies from each country. The research reveals that indeed infrastructure development contributes to economic growth and that although South Africa has a population of 1.6 times that of Uganda, the electricity produced in South Africa is 61 times greater that of Uganda, and the economy of South Africa is about 11.2 times that of Uganda according to 2016 GDP statistics. The research also reveals that while South Africa energy policy is to a large extent oriented towards energy efficiency and reduction of carbon foot print, and Uganda’s energy policy orientation is to develop energy infrastructure to ensure access to affordable reliable electricity for all Ugandans, both countries have committed considerable portions of respective national budgets to energy infrastructure in a bid to develop their industry, manufacturing sectors and subsequently become more economically well off. Uganda has three main lessons to learn from South Africa in using policy to influence infrastructure development including: 1. The use of detailed implementation plans, 2. Government commitment to follow through plans and 3. The development of energy sector is aligned with the country’s vision to become a middle income country. Therefore, the focus to develop industry, manufacturing and transport sectors would directly impact on developing energy sector to support them. In conclusion, The energy sector should regarded as an underlying sector which supports and directly impacts industry, manufacture, productivity, trade export and subsequent economic growth and development. Uganda has great potential to meet its goals in the country’s national vision through energy policy.