Atomic Energy Council MINISTRY OF ENERGY & MINERAL DEVELOPMENT SECURING YOUR FUTURE H.E Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Hon. Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu, President of the Republic of Uganda Minister of Energy & Mineral Development • 9 Congratulations! On this historic occasion, The Chairperson, the Council Members and all staff of Atomic Energy Council convey their congratulations to H.E Gen. Yoweri T. Kaguta Museveni upon his re-election as the President of the Republic of Uganda 2021- 2026. Long live President Museveni. Long Live Uganda. Dr. Akisophel Kisolo, Mr. Noah Deogratias Luwalira, Chairperson, Atomic Energy Council Secretary and C.E.O Atomic Energy Council 110 | President Yoweri K. Museveni Victory Handbook ENERGY & MINERAL DEVELOPMENT Established by the Atomic Energy Act No. 24 of 2008 (AEA) Laws of Uganda, the Council is mandated to regulate peaceful applications of ionising radiation to provide for the protection and safety of society and the environment from dangers resulting from ionising radiation. The use of Atomic Energy in Uganda is in medical, industrial, agriculture, research among other fields. Atomic Energy Council Ionizing radiation versus Non- However, these same properties embarks on the regulation of ionising radiation and characteristics make ionising sources and applications that Ionizing radiation is extremely high radiation dangerous to persons and the emit non-ionising radiation frequency invisible electromagnetic environment because of the high risk in The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) is energy rays that have sufficient energy causing adverse health effects when it making progress in the regulation of to penetrate materials and alter their interacts with living cells when exposure sources and applications that emit non- sub-atomic nature. It includes X-rays, is not controlled. The known effects ionising radiation. Established in 2008, gamma rays, neutrons, cosmic rays include radiation sicknesses, lesions or the Council is mandated to regulate and alpha and beta particles. It is used wounds, cancer, genetic mutations and the peaceful applications of ionising in a wide range of medical, industrial, death in extreme cases. radiation in Uganda to provide for the security and research practices. Its ability protection and safety of society and the to penetrate materials makes it suitable Non-ionising radiation is characterised environment from dangers resulting for applications such as X-ray imaging, by relatively lower frequencies, and from ionising radiation. Its key regulatory baggage scanning and industrial level and consequently lower energies that are not functions include licensing, conducting density gauging among others. The ability capable of altering the nature of atoms of inspections and enforcements and to alter molecular nature of materials materials. Whereas it may be considered developing regulations and guides among makes ionising radiation useful in cancer less penetrative, the energy it possesses others for facilities that use ionising treatment. The high energy property is is deposited as mild heat or electricity in radiation. used for power generation applications. the materials which it interacts with. Its forms include radiofrequency radiation, microwaves, optic radiation (infrared, visible light, near ultraviolet radiation and lasers), extremely low frequency radiation and static fields. Applications of non-ionising radiation Non-ionising radiation is widely used in various modern applications such as telecommunication sector to facilitate signal and information transmission for radio and television broadcast and mobile wireless telephony, aviation radar, satellite communication, security and weather station systems. Microwaves domestically and Telecommunication towers such as these are now a common sight in areas around the country. There is a growing concern about their impact on human safety industrially for cooking and other heating President Yoweri K. Museveni Victory Handbook | 111 ENERGY & MINERAL DEVELOPMENT purposes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging the motility (how well the sperm moves) (MRI) for medical diagnosis, walk-through and morphology (appearance). There is and handheld security metal detectors for a possibility genetic damage including Established in 2008, the security checks, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems chromosomal instability, gene mutations, Council is mandated to for internet and short-range communications, and DNA structural breaks associated with regulate the peaceful high voltage power transmission among radiofrequency radiation exposure. applications of ionising others. However, individuals cannot detect radiation in Uganda to its presence. This kind of radiation can be A scientific working group of the World provide for the protection hazardous to human health if exposure Health Organisation’s International and safety of society and received is excessively high. Such proven Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) the environment from health effects have led government to in 2011 issued a statement classifying dangers resulting from embark on its regulation process, to control electromagnetic radiation as possibly ionising radiation. its exposure level to people in order to carcinogenic (cancerous) to humans minimise health risks. based on inadequate proof of a potential accession in danger for brain tumors Progress made so far among telephone users, and lacking Section 2(3) of the Atomic Energy Act sensitive to body temperature rises. The evidence for different kinds of cancer. No. 24 of 2008 gives the Atomic Energy conditions may manifest as dizziness, Council the discretionary mandate (by a headaches, fatigue, insomnia, digestive Many of the suspected effects are statutory order) to apply provisions of the disorders, nausea and cardiac stress. believed to start manifesting in the Act to sources of electromagnetic radiation The other effects include photochemical long-term surpassing the time scale other than X-rays and gamma rays. tissue reactions that mostly result in of the technologies that caused them, inflammation of soft tissues such as the and rendering any later investigation So far, the Atomic Energy Council is cornea of the eye (cataracts) and tanning out of focus. An article on the adverse working on the statutory order which of the skin (sun burns) for individuals with impacts of mobile phone tower is already in advanced stages of light skins such as albinos. The effects of radiation on human health published in development. There is an ongoing national proximity to high voltage power lines are the International Journal of Radiology baseline survey aimed at establishing electrical in nature considering that the & Radiation Therapy in November the nationally prevalent radiofrequency electromagnetic fields around them induce 2020 mentions that “non-thermal exposure levels that will be used in electric currents in the body resulting effects of radiofrequency pollution tailoring the regulatory requirements, in mild electric shocks and imbalanced expand across time and the hazards the necessary equipment (the body charges that may affect the neural are more noticeable after 8 to 10 spectrum analyser for measurement of systems. years of expression”. It adds that, radiofrequency exposure levels) has been “the consequences are not recognised attained, training of technical officers and The long-term effects of radiofrequency in the primary years of vulnerability stakeholder engagements with key MDA’S radiation are less discreet since it has as the body has specific security and operators is ongoing. not been confirmed to cause detectable mechanisms and the burden is on the impairment of the health of the individual stress proteins of the body, particularly Health risks of non-ionising or of his or her offspring. There is only the heat shock proteins. However, if radiation a presumed possibility of occurrence of the pressure goes on for too long, the Health effects arising from prolonged conditions such as cancers, miscarriages, cells are less defended and therefore exposure to non-ionising radiation mostly genetic mutations, deterioration in brain extended or chronic exposures may affect the brain, the heart, the skin, the functionality, retarded growth in children be dangerous, even at very low eyes and the testes as they are more and reduced sperm quality, especially concentrations.” 112 | President Yoweri K. Museveni Victory Handbook ENERGY & MINERAL DEVELOPMENT Non-health related impacts of Recommendations for public non-ionising radiation safety from non-ionising radiation On the other hand, there are non-health related impacts that result from having 1. Radiation levels from exposures from sources of non-ionising radiation in antennae of telephone towers and other an area. In agriculture, radiation from sources of non-ionising radiation decrease telecommunication towers and high voltage rapidly with increased distance. The safe power transmission lines is thought to have zone is therefore the distance at which an impact on plant growth rate and yield, the levels are below the limits prescribed specifically affecting root and shoot length for both workers and the general public. and the color of leaves and lowering milk If emission levels are higher, those areas and egg production in cattle and chicken should be restricted for access to general respectively. On other machinery, they may public and duly marked as exclusion zones. cause interference with aviation systems, Wireless Transmission and Broadcasting Masts especially during flight, other