Evwind, Other renewables

Solar power in Uganda

With only about 450,000 Ugandans connected to the national grid, there is great potential for the growth of solar energy.

However, only a handful have adopted the system with many kept away by up-front payment costs and unreliable equipment.

Despite the immense benefits associated with solar energy, its adaption in the Ugandan market continues to be slow, with only a handful of Ugandans having access.
Not even a tax waiver on the importation of solar equipment and funding from agencies like the World Bank has helped to increase its usage in the country.

The government abolished import duty on solar equipment under the East African Community framework as well as exempting value added tax in order to make it affordable.

Mr Dirk Kam, the Barefoot Power Uganda managing director, says not more than 5 per cent of Ugandan households that are not connected to the national grid, have access to solar power.
Using the Lighting Africa (a World Bank initiative that seeks improve access to clean, affordable lighting in Africa) formula, each household consists of a minimum of five people, meaning that with a population of about 34 million, there would be about 6.8 million households in Uganda.