The government wants solar power to be harnessed to generate income and transform people’s lives. Solar energy has mostly been used for lighting in homes, schools, hospitals and other commercial enterprises.
The commissioner for renewable energy at the Ministry of Energy while giving remarks recently during a district dialogue in Wakiso on the productive use of solar energy in the agriculture value chain urged bene!ciaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to adopt solar energy as a tool to !ght poverty in their households.
While this call is timely and constructive, it overlooks the signi!cant challenges that continue to hinder the adoption of solar energy in Uganda, especially among rural communities that the PDM programme seeks to empower. Uganda undeniably has the potential for solar energy, which is a clean and sustainable option to the traditional sources used, especially in these communities.
Solar energy offers immense economic bene!ts to individuals and is environmentally safe. It has the potential to enhance productivity and economic participation in rural and underserved communities. Despite the potential for solar to transform people’s lives through various income-generating activities, the reality for consumers is different.
Even though solar energy might be affordable to maintain in the long run, the initial investment costs are high for most households. The cost of a basic solar home system that can be used for lighting, phone charging and a few more appliances may not be affordable for many intending consumers.
