The Uganda Energy Sector GIS Working Group in collaboration with the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) and other partners organized the seventh Utilities GIS Conference. The conference was held in Kampala, Uganda and was focused on 'Geo-Intelligence for Utilities.' The conference was opened by Hon Kitutu Goretti State Minister for Environment, Uganda. RCMRD was represented by the Business Development and Marketing Officer who made a presentation the role of RCMRD in promoting the energy sector.Conference Aims:

It aimed at initiating discussions on common mapping standards and developed a common geo-database for the energy sector in the EAC region through sharing experience among the utilities GIS experts from Uganda and other EAC countries as well as the ECOWAS region. GIS experts from different government agencies and the private sector from different countries showcased how GIS technology is used for infrastructure planning, asset management, network monitoring, and decision making. The workshop was attended by over 120 participants from all the East African Community Partner States (namely Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania) as well as GIS experts from Sweden, Germany, USA, South Africa and the ECOWAS Region.

Proposals and Recommendations and Adopted at Utilities GIS Conference:

Strengthening cooperation, networking and sharing of GIS-related knowledge and information between the national institutions and across the borders; Establishing and strengthening of both National and Regional Energy GIS Working Groups to develop a regional GIS-related standards and mechanism for sharing of data and information and Support EACREEE’s initiative to establish an EAC Observatory for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency as a regional GIS platform for sharing information on energy and related resources and infrastructures.

Other Proposals Included:
Establishment of East African Energy GIS Conference as biennial event, to be organized by EACREEE and other partners as well as establishment and development of capacity building on GIS applications on energy and other sectors. It was recommended that RCMRD should continue engaging with the Energy working group of Uganda and that RCMRD would assist development of other working groups in respective EAC countries with EACREEE. It was recommended that RCMRD should continue engaging with the Energy working group of Uganda and that RCMRD would assist development of other working groups in respective EAC countries with EACREEE.

First ESRI Uganda User Group Conference:
This is a spinoff from the Regional ESRI meetings that RCMRD partners have been carrying out for Eastern Africa Region. The conference brought together Esri software users from across Uganda to share their experiences and learn the latest in Esri technology.

RCMRD was represented on panel on the Role of GIS in Achieving Uganda's Vision 2040 where Anangwe discussed the status, successes and challenges in the process of attaining this vision after the launch in 2013. In his discussions he factored in aspects of the RCMRD Strategic Plan and National Agendas of the RCMRD member States as well as Agenda 2063 of the African Union. RCMRD also had an exhibition booth. The event had more than 100 Delegates from Uganda.