Makerere gets solar-powered street lights
Jun 28, 2014
Makerere University has installed solar-powered street lights, in a bid to reduce electricity costs and counter insecurity.
By Clare Muhindo and Innocent Anguyo
Makerere University has installed solar-powered street lights, in a bid to reduce electricity costs and counter insecurity.
The solar-powered street lighting project which is a result of a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) between Makerere and SHARP Electronics Technology Ltd, an international company, aims to provide reliable and environmentally-friendly street-lighting on the campus, so as to reduce on energy expenses and incidents of insecurity at night.
During the launch of the project on Friday, the police spokesman Fred Enanga said the project came at the much needed time when Makerere was one of the institutions vulnerable to terror attacks due to its huge population.
“Terrorists look at areas where they can instill collateral damage, and with a big population composed of students, they would have sent a strong political message by attacking the university,” Enanga said.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the vice chancellor, the deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of academic affairs, Ernest Okello Ogwang, said that the university signed a memorandum of understanding with Sharp Electronics to install 120 solar powered street lights and 10 outdoor LED screens at various points in the university.
Patrick Katto, the Managing Director SHARP Electronics Technology Ltd said the lighting system installed at Makerere meet the changing global requirements for ecologically lighting up developing cities.
RELATED ARTICLES
Cheap solar power for rural population
Wind, solar projects to add 250Mw to national grid