Lamwo county MP Hon Nyeko Johnson Challenges Ministry of Energy on Mandulis Energy Biomass.
By Okidi Patrick
KAMPALA — The Lamwo County Member of Parliament, Johnson Kezekiya Nyeko, has challenged Parliament and the Ministry of Energy to recognise biomass power as a cheap, reliable and equitable source of electricity for Uganda.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during a session on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Nyeko said Uganda is moving slowly if it continues to ignore a power source that is vital, less costly and can be distributed equitably across the country.
“Thank you very much, Rt. Hon. Speaker. I don’t know if Uganda is moving well. If we have not mentioned another source of power which is vital and less costly and can be distributed equitably, and that is biomass power,” Nyeko said.
Mandulis Energy: Recognised abroad, ignored at home
Nyeko pointed to Mandulis Energy, a Ugandan company that, he said, has won international recognition in several climate meetings, yet is not recognised and not implemented at home in Uganda.
According to the MP, Mandulis Energy has practically set up two powerful power stations in Nwoya District — at Got Apwoyo and Got Nguu respectively.
He told Parliament that at Got Ngur, the company provided power for free for two years to residents, yet the same power can be provided in other parts of Uganda.
“If a small Ugandan company can provide free power to a region and cannot be recognised in Uganda, but it is recognised by the world, yet people are crying for power in the East, West, South and Northern parts of the country… Ministry of Energy, are we moving right?” Nyeko asked.
Mandulis Energy uses biomass gasification — turning agricultural waste like maize husks, groundnut shells, sim-sim stems and maize cobs into gas to generate electricity — combined with solar in a hybrid mini-grid system. Its work in Nwoya has previously been featured by the BBC, USAID Power Africa and international climate forums.
Two birds, one stone: Food and power
Nyeko explained that Mandulis Energy uses an agricultural model — people grow more food, and the waste from that food becomes power.
“They can grow food to benefit the people; we can use the grass you cut. We hit two birds with one stone.”
He said biomass power is sustainable, cheap to process with Mandulis Energy, and can reach communities that are still crying for power.
He tasked the Ministry of Energy on power reliability, asking why Uganda continues to struggle while a home-grown solution is already working.
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