In the heart of Hoima District, Western Uganda, lies the resilient community of Kijumba an area long plagued by energy poverty and social-economic exclusion. For years, this rural village functioned under the pressing burden of darkness, where the lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity restricted daily life and undermined development. In a place where kerosene lamps and firewood were the norm, the community’s aspirations for progress remained dimmed. But today, a new dawn has risen over Kijumba, powered not by the state grid but by the sun.
The story of Kijumba’s transition from darkness to solar light is not merely a narrative about technological change; it is a testimony of empowerment, innovation, and community resilience. At the centre of this transformation are the people especially the women and youth whose determination to pursue sustainable alternatives has redefined what development looks like in rural Uganda.
Before the solar transition, the absence of electricity in Kijumba had dire consequences. Children struggled to do homework at night, relying on dim and hazardous kerosene lamps. Health centres could not refrigerate vaccines or operate essential equipment. Women, who bore the brunt of domestic responsibilities, often cooked with firewood exposing themselves and their children to indoor air pollution and the dangers of open flames. Small businesses, too, faced enormous constraints. Without refrigeration or lighting, shopkeepers closed early, and economic activity slowed at dusk.
The reliance on kerosene was not only dangerous but also expensive. Many families spent a significant portion of their income on fuel just to meet basic lighting needs. Meanwhile, deforestation increased as households cut trees for firewood, further compounding environmental degradation. This crisis of energy access in Kijumba is reflective of the broader challenge faced by many rural Ugandan communities. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, nearly 60% of rural Ugandans live without electricity. The government’s rural electrification efforts have been slow and expensive, leaving a gap that alternative solutions like solar energy are now filling.
In 2022, a series of grassroots mobilizations led by local leaders, environmental advocates, and civil society organizations such as the Centre for Energy, Climate and Innovation Change (CECIC), marked the beginning of a solar revolution in Kijumba. CECIC introduced a pilot project designed to equip rural households and institutions with clean solar lighting solutions, while also building local capacity to maintain and expand the technology. Through community sensitization meetings, training sessions, and partnerships with local women’s groups, solar technology became not just accepted but celebrated.
The training of over 60 women in solar panel installation and maintenance was particularly groundbreaking. Traditionally excluded from technical fields, these women are now local energy champions installing solar systems, educating neighbours, and earning income from their skills. One such example is Grace Tibesigwa, a 34-year-old mother of four, who before the training had never handled a wire. Today, she leads a team of five women that have installed solar panels on over 80 households in Kijumba. Her story has inspired many young girls in the village to consider careers in renewable energy and has challenged gender stereotypes in the community.
Thanks to the solar initiative, hundreds of homes in Kijumba are now lit with clean, affordable energy. Solar home systems provide enough power for lighting, charging phones, running radios, and even powering small televisions. Schoolchildren like James and Annet no longer read under kerosene lamps. They now study in well-lit rooms, improving their performance and reducing health risks.
At Kijumba Health Centre II, the impact has been nothing short of revolutionary. With solar power, the centre now stores vaccines safely, conducts nighttime deliveries, and operates basic lab equipment. Nurse Mary Kabajungu recalls how previously, emergencies at night were a nightmare. Now, they no longer turn away patients and can work confidently even past midnight.
Small businesses have flourished. Shopkeepers keep their stores open longer, vendors charge customers’ phones for a fee, and new solar-powered barbershops have opened. The ripple effect on household incomes and local trade has been significant.
