Hathaway’s solar dream for Uganda
Oct 29, 2003
AN American bishop’s dream is lighting up schools, health centres, homes and churches in the remote areas of Uganda and providing a better quality of life in the rural areas.
AN American bishop’s dream is lighting up schools, health centres, homes and churches in the remote areas of Uganda and providing a better quality of life in the rural areas.
Bishop Alden Hathaway, retired Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh, in the U.S has found comfort in helping rural Ugandans get solar energy.
Hathaway first came to Uganda in 1997, to join in celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Anglican diocese of Bunyoro-Kitara. During his stay, Hathaway visited an orphanage established by a colleague in the robe, Bishop Wilson Turyamanya.
The two had earlier met at the Trinity School for Ministry at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, while on pastoral duty. As a result of their friendship, Hathaway’s diocese helped build the orphanage. But when night fell, the orphanage became a dark structure the only source of light being a wick lamp (tadooba).
Following his short visit to Uganda, Hathaway founded Solar Light for Africa, an ecumenical non-profit organisation. His idea was to build a partnership between Ugandan and U.S churches to promote the role of the church in helping its flock develop, by helping them access solar energy.
Today, the orphanage is lit by solar power and the attendants can easily go about their work at night.
Hathaway retired after 14 years as bishop. The 70-year-old bishop, born in St. Louis Missouri has been at the helm of the Pittsburgh episcopacy since 1983.
I meet this man of God recently at Fang Fang Hotel in Nakasero, where he was on a working luncheon with a group of American and Ugandan youths who were part of the Solar Light for Africa programme, which brings together young people from the two countries, to help in installing solar equipment in several rural areas.
This year, the group of over 50, worked at the Good Samaritan Health Centre in Rukunyu in Kabale.
The First lady, Janet Museveni, who is the patron of Solar Light for Africa, proposed the project as a model for improving rural health facilities and to enhance medical services in combating diseases.
This was the fifth youth mission, and on this day, the group had just returned from two weeks work in Rukunyu.
Other projects have taken off in Mityana, Masaka, Kinkizi and Jinja.
At the Good Samaritan Hospital, where four doctors and 20 nurses work on an average 100 patients daily, the group installed number of solar panels to provide energy.
“It had never occurred to me that there were people living such a tough lives, but here I have come face to face with reality. Even the remotest part of my country has some form of electricity and the people live much better than what I saw here,†the prelate says.
“I kept on thinking of how I could supplement these people’s courage after seeing the women work so tirelessly especially in the orphanages and health centres,†says Hathaway.
The idea of a solar project was viable, as Hathaway’s son was an electrical engineer for a renewable energy company in the US.
Hathaway Junior, works as the director of Green Power Programs in Washington.
Bishop Alden Hathaway, retired Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh, in the U.S has found comfort in helping rural Ugandans get solar energy.
Hathaway first came to Uganda in 1997, to join in celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Anglican diocese of Bunyoro-Kitara. During his stay, Hathaway visited an orphanage established by a colleague in the robe, Bishop Wilson Turyamanya.
The two had earlier met at the Trinity School for Ministry at Ambridge, Pennsylvania, while on pastoral duty. As a result of their friendship, Hathaway’s diocese helped build the orphanage. But when night fell, the orphanage became a dark structure the only source of light being a wick lamp (tadooba).
Following his short visit to Uganda, Hathaway founded Solar Light for Africa, an ecumenical non-profit organisation. His idea was to build a partnership between Ugandan and U.S churches to promote the role of the church in helping its flock develop, by helping them access solar energy.
Today, the orphanage is lit by solar power and the attendants can easily go about their work at night.
Hathaway retired after 14 years as bishop. The 70-year-old bishop, born in St. Louis Missouri has been at the helm of the Pittsburgh episcopacy since 1983.
I meet this man of God recently at Fang Fang Hotel in Nakasero, where he was on a working luncheon with a group of American and Ugandan youths who were part of the Solar Light for Africa programme, which brings together young people from the two countries, to help in installing solar equipment in several rural areas.
This year, the group of over 50, worked at the Good Samaritan Health Centre in Rukunyu in Kabale.
The First lady, Janet Museveni, who is the patron of Solar Light for Africa, proposed the project as a model for improving rural health facilities and to enhance medical services in combating diseases.
This was the fifth youth mission, and on this day, the group had just returned from two weeks work in Rukunyu.
Other projects have taken off in Mityana, Masaka, Kinkizi and Jinja.
At the Good Samaritan Hospital, where four doctors and 20 nurses work on an average 100 patients daily, the group installed number of solar panels to provide energy.
“It had never occurred to me that there were people living such a tough lives, but here I have come face to face with reality. Even the remotest part of my country has some form of electricity and the people live much better than what I saw here,†the prelate says.
“I kept on thinking of how I could supplement these people’s courage after seeing the women work so tirelessly especially in the orphanages and health centres,†says Hathaway.
The idea of a solar project was viable, as Hathaway’s son was an electrical engineer for a renewable energy company in the US.
Hathaway Junior, works as the director of Green Power Programs in Washington.