Solar Power Solutions to light schools in Northern Uganda

ARUA - For many rural schools, access to electricity remains a mystery due to the high fees and technicalities involved when applying for electricity connectivity.

Statistics indicate that more than half of schools in rural areas have no source of power, reducing the learning hours for children and leaving no room for revision after classes.

Lack of access to electricity also limits access to ICT equipment such as computers, printers and other smart learning devices which negatively impacts teaching and learning.

In an effort to promote effective learning and improve academic performance in rural schools, Sun King Uganda has launched an initiative to equip schools with solar kits that will improve lighting in schools.

Launched at Faith Nursery and Primary School in Ajono Yivu parish, Vurra sub-county, Arua district the project will see a number of rural schools installed with solar panels, solar batteries and kits.

According to Peter Mugwanya, the Country Business Leader of Sun King Uganda, the initiative aligns with the company’s corporate social responsibility to support communities.

“We have donated the solar kit called 500X with five solar-powered bulbs, our main objective is to improve the lives of these learners and their academic performance by allowing them to extend their study hours. At the school all the eight classrooms will be lit up with solar-powered bulbs to enable quality learning at the facility,” Mugwanya said.

Ezra Muru, the chairperson of the Parents Teachers’ Association commended the donors highlighting that the school had been struggling to connect to the national grid.

“For a long time, we have been struggling to see that the school has power, but all our efforts have been futile due to the high fees required by the power companies. We are happy that finally, our classrooms have solar lights that can help with night teaching.”

Additionally, Samuel Aloro the Head Teacher said they were optimistic that their students will be able to compete with those in the city schools in terms of performance.

Other beneficiaries include Arua Central Market Police Post before opening a new office in Arua. The successful installation of solar power at these institutions demonstrates how pooled resources and expertise can deliver transformative solutions to the less privileged.

In October last year, the government launched a World Bank-sponsored solar power initiative to electrify schools in hard-to-reach areas, however, the sh19 billion project is still in its initial stages leaving rural schools in dire need of such donations.