Executive Board of the EACREEE appoints the Executive Director at the 2nd meeting of the Technical committee and Executive Board

KAMPALA, 11 August 2017 – The 2^nd Executive Board (EB) meeting of the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency today has appointed Mr. Michael Ahimbisibwe (photo, left)  from Uganda as the Executive Director of EACREEE. Following the meeting of the 2^ndTechnical Committee (TC), held between 9-10 August 2017, the Chairman of the Executive Board, Dr. Stephen Robert Isabalija, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda, formally opened the 2^nd EB meeting.

Isabalija extended the appreciation of the Government of Ugandato the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Austrian Development Agency (ADA), for their support during the process of establishing the Centre of Excellence for East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) in Kampala; and welcomed the new staff seconded by UNIDO.

He also reaffirmed the continued support of the Ministry and the Government of Uganda to the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) and to other EAC initiatives in the area of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and urged the EACREEE Secretariat to pursue SDG 7 targets with visible results.

Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Principal of CEDAT, assured the EB of Centre’s continued commitment and eagerness to set up a management framework that will work towards the fulfilment of its obligations under the Tripartite Implementation Agreement.

Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors (DSG-PSS), emphasized EACREEE’s importance within the community to achieve the EAC’s goal to improve the quality of life of the citizens of the EAC region. He noted that energy is the key in tackling existing social, political, institutional and technical barriers. This target can be met by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. Consequently, the Executive Board recommended the EACREEE to organise a Sustainable Energy Forum for East Africa in February 2018 to be held in Rwanda.