| Abstract |
Geothermal development in Uganda like any other development projects in other parts of the world has been met with a number of non-technical barriers which when not properly handled can have devastating effects on projects. These non-technical barriers include lack of awareness and information by stakeholders on the concept of geothermal energy, very high economic expectations and various environmental misconceptions about such developments. The Kibiro Geothermal prospect has hot springs that have been held in high regard culturally by the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and its subjects for centuries. Therefore, the proponent has to convince the Kingdom and its subjects that these developments will have no effect on their cultural sites. However, these barriers can easily be mitigated by carrying out continuous and extensive geothermal sensitization, workshops targeting the relevant stakeholders. The Government of Uganda applied a number of strategies that include tours to Olkaria Geothermal project in Kenya, site meetings, social media outreach and information sharing, one on one interaction with opinion leaders, workshops with the cultural leaders of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. These strategies whose aim is to obtain a social license, gain trust and approval for the project have yielded good results. This notwithstanding, there are a number of barriers that are encountered by the project proponents which include mobilization of funds to implement the different engagement strategies. |