Women in Isango Sub County are excited about the new technology of using solar energy for lighting houses. This is as a result of a project supported by WWF whose aim is toaccelerate the access to modern clean energy services for local communities in Kasese district, the main target being the local men and women who still use the traditional tadoba because they have not yet accessed the rural electricity and also low income earners.
The
solar light is given through groups especially the Village savings and loans
associations and the Water User groups who have started the YahuraYehuza
strategy. They get the solar product on a loan where they pay 50% before taking
the product and 50% is paid in instalment for four months. There is no
guarantee for the loan like other financial institutions do and so even the
lowest woman can easily access the products as one woman Ms Karungi Sarah said “some of my family members could not
believe that this solar was mine until I showed them the receipt. This is
because I cannot afford a solar if it is not a loan…I can also light my house
at night and no longer use a tadoba which brings smoke in my house and the
light is so bright. However, am scared of thieves that they might steal my
product at night”
Another
woman Ms Sumba said thus “I have a senior four son
who would light my paraffin throughout the night reading and so I would buy
paraffin for 1000 shillings every day for us and him to use. So in a week I
would spend 7000 shillings on paraffin. And on charging our 2 phones we would use
600 shillings every three days which totals to 1200 shillings a week. Now I can
save 8200= in our SACCO and it will help me to clear my loan and also continue
to save…”This is indeed a mega saving for a rural low income earner and it can
improve people’s lives for the better.
Many
people used to take using the traditional candle known as tadoba to be the
cheapest way of energy in Uganda but it has turned to be one of the most
expensive models because of the daily expenses on paraffin. Here is solar energy
which one buys once and it’s the sun to charge the solar for light and is
easily accessible.
The
community are happy with KALI and WWF for this initiative of bringing such
services nearer to them.
Compiled
by
Masika
scovia
KALI
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