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Baroness Verma, the former United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, has said the renewal energy sector is growing and required for the African continent. 

She said Africa is blessed with natural resources like the sun, which is critical for renewable energy.

“When we are looking at energy, it is one of the biggest cost factors anywhere in the world, but we can help companies to reduce that, and it can be a great win for businesses and for the country at large through generating jobs for long-term employment, as well as generating skills for the next generation,” Baroness, the chairperson of Nexus Green Limited, a Ugandan-based solar energy company stated.

Baroness Verma said Africa is blessed with natural resources like the sun, which is critical for renewable energy. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Baroness interacts with Nexus Green employees.

She was recently speaking at the launch of the company’s Business-to-Business (B2B) campaign at a dinner party organized by her son, Tarun Rikki Verma, the Chief Executive and founder of Nexus Green, and his wife Ashely Verma. 

The dinner took place at the Summit Residences in Naguru, an upmarket luxury apartment hotel. 

The residence, owned by Mukesha Thakrar and his son Anuj Thakrar, is Nexus Green’s flagship customer where it installed a 200kilowat per hour solar system to support their electricity supply.

Baroness with her son Rikki and his wife Ashley Verma.

Baroness with a guest

Nexus Green was recently, on the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, given multi-billion contracts to supply solar power to the Defence ministry and install solar-powered irrigation systems to the agriculture sector, through the Ministry of Water and Environment.

“This is the launch of Nexus Green business to business, and we have contracts for solar irrigation across the country with the Ministry of Water and Environment, but the most important thing is that businesses look for stability, consistency, and return of investments and the way to do this is to reduce their costs through cheap energy,” Baroness explained. 

The United Kingdom deputy Trade Commissioner for Africa, Jaya Choraria, and the Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Water and Environment, Alfred Okidi Okot, Uganda Investment Authority Director General Robert Mukiza, and businessman Patrick Bitature attended the function.

Guests have fan.

Guests have dinner

Others at the dinner included Sara Mulindwa, a Ugandan-born, United Kingdom-based media personality and television host and sexual health educator, and socialite Judith Heard, among others.

“As Nexus Green, we must see what we are doing here as an expansion of our business since we came into Uganda, there is a whole continent that is working and aiming to ‘Net Zero’, and zero is the word that is to be done by 2050, we are just part of that transition.

We are privileged and pleased that we started here in Uganda,” Baronnes said. Net Zero is cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible.

The day's disco joker entertains guests.

Guests interact during the dinner.

Rikki told his guests that through their dynamic campaigns and initiatives, Nexus Green was at the forefront, championing ‘Solar solution for a sustainable future’.

He said, “Our recent collaboration with Jinko Solar has made us their exclusive distributor in Uganda, aligning Nexus Green with one of the solar industry’s titans”.

“But this is not just about collaborations or business metrics. It is about a shared vision of sustainability and progress. Every business leader here knows the importance of operational efficiency and financial growth.”

The dinner took place at the Summit Residences in Naguru, an upmarket luxury apartment hotel.

PS Okidi said that as a country, Uganda is extremely vulnerable to climate change, and ranked 10th in the world. “So, we need to adapt to climate change and its impacts,” he explained, adding that in Uganda, only 1% of the country is under irrigation, out of 3 million hectares that the country can irrigate.

“But with our partnership with Nexus Green, we are going to push that significantly,” he said and thanked Rikki for the resilience and Baroness for encouraging and pushing the ministry through.

He added, “For us here in Uganda, what Nexus Green is championing is going to go a long way in helping us to reduce our footprints because it is going to make your business less expensive especially when you are exporting,” he explained.

Guests enjoy a meal during the dinner.

Rikki and Sara Mulindwa

On behalf of the Uganda Investment Authority, Mukiza said Uganda must increase production of land through solar-powered irrigation and attain predictable agriculture.

He said, “What Nexus Green is doing is critical for us as a country, we should continue to invest in sustainable agriculture. We also need to invest in the electricity that we need in 30 years, once we have electricity from sustainable sources, it enhances our development.”

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Below is a highlight of pictures from the function, all by Vision Group's Eddie Ssejjoba;

Socialite Judith Heard was also in attendance.

PS Okidi chats with guests.