Government Project Powers Over 320,000 Households with Solar as USEA Expo 2025 Opens
The government’s flagship solar program has enabled more than 320,000 households across Uganda to acquire solar energy solutions in just the past year, thanks to targeted financing and credit support, according to Patrick Owere, a senior official at the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC).
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of the 2nd National Solar Expo 2025, organised by the Uganda Solar Energy Association (USEA) at Silver Springs, Bugolobi, Owere said the project is dismantling the long-standing barriers that have limited solar uptake, particularly the high upfront costs.
“At the moment, UECCC is implementing a key government program, the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project, which is in excess of $110 million. The project is supporting acquisition of off-grid solar equipment for low-end beneficiaries. We provide credit support facilities through financial institutions to reduce the upfront cost barrier, and we have seen this unlocking solar adoption across the country,” Owere said.
He revealed that in addition to households, more than 150,000 commercial enterprises and 1,800 businesses—including farms, hotels, and dairies—have benefited from government-backed financing for solar-powered irrigation, refrigeration, and other productive uses of energy.
Improving Quality and Trust in Solar
Owere acknowledged that past challenges with counterfeit and poor-quality solar products had discouraged many Ugandans from investing in renewable energy.
However, he noted that recent collaboration between UECCC, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and solar sector players has changed the game.
“In the past, the issue of quality of solar products was a challenge in Uganda. But with technical assistance and improved standards, the quality of products has improved significantly. Feedback from users shows that maintenance costs have dropped, and confidence is returning. With this, we expect uptake of off-grid solar to keep rising,” he said.
USEA Expo Shines Spotlight on Solar
This year’s three-day Expo, running under the theme “Unlocking Solar for Growth and Resilience”, has attracted over 300 companies and showcases innovations ranging from solar water pumps and cold storage solutions for farmers to e-mobility and clean cooking technologies.
Douglas Baguma Karugaba, Chairperson of USEA’s Board, hailed the strong partnerships with government, development partners, and banks such as Centenary Bank, which sponsored the event.
He stressed that solar is already transforming livelihoods, with over 28% of Ugandans accessing electricity through solar, especially in rural areas underserved by the grid.
Financing as the Key to Universal Access
Owere emphasised that scaling solar requires not only innovation but also financing solutions that make clean energy affordable for ordinary Ugandans.
“An exhibition like this one brings together all players to showcase products and partnerships that are unlocking universal energy access. We must continue addressing affordability, awareness, and financing to ensure solar becomes the backbone of Uganda’s electrification,” he said.
The Expo runs until Saturday, August 30, and is expected to generate new partnerships, investments, and commitments to accelerate Uganda’s clean energy transition.
