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{
    "id": 217978,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/217978/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 28,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kimunya",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "In the large towns, which are far away from the national grid, the Government will provide diesel- fired isolated mini-grids. And to enhance capacity of power generation and distribution to sustain the economic expansion which is currently ongoing, I have allocated Kshs8 billion in the Budget of 2007/2008, which should avert any shortage of power supply that could impact negatively on our manufacturing sector. I also expect the recently enacted energy law to open up a participation in electricity generation to private investors and reduce the direct fiscal burden. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a result of increased economic activities, demand for petroleum products has increased significantly. The pipeline through-put volume now stands at 3.6 billion litres, a level we cannot sustain with the current operations. The Government will fast-track installation of booster pump stations to double the capacity of the pipeline. In order to serve the growing petroleum demand in Uganda and the Great Lakes Region, we are, in partnership with the Uganda Government, fast-tracking the extension of the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Kampala. When completed by the end of 2008, that pipeline will lower the tariff for transporting petroleum fuel and reduce, among others, the road maintenance costs, accidents and environmental pollution from all those trucks on the road. The Government has also undertaken to modernise the oil refinery. I am including in this Budget part of our contribution for that. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on measures to promote science, technology and innovation for higher productivity, the Government recognises the important role science, technology and innovation plays in promoting efficiency, productivity and competitiveness, which are fundamental for economic transformation. The Ministry of Science and Technology, working together with the private sector players, will implement a comprehensive science and technology strategy to promote efficiency and productivity in the key priority areas of: agriculture development, expansion of infrastructure, health-care and education delivery, security and crime management, public administration and industrial production. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to demonstrate our commitment to that important area, I have allocated Kshs200 million as start-up capital in the year 2007/2008 for the establishment of an endowment fund for innovation and research."
}