1,500 farmers to benefit from solar energy initiative

A total of 1,500 farmers are expected to benefit from a project aimed at

promoting solar energy skills and jobs among smallholder farmers. The project

also aims to promote entrepreneurship among 1,000 youths.

The revelation follows the Buganda Kingdom, through the Kabaka Foundation signing a memorandum of understanding with Heifer International to promote renewable energy, in particular solar energy, among smallholder farmers.

Kabaka Foundation chief executive officer Kagwa Ndagala signed on behalf of the foundation,while Dr William Matovu, the executive director of Heifer International in Uganda signed on behalf of Heifer at Bulange Mengo.

Explaining the memorandum of understanding, Matovu said the promotion of solar energy will be implemented under the Distributed Renewable Energy Ecosystem Model (DREEM) project that ends in 2026, with funding from the Mott Foundation.

“The DREEM initiative represents more than just technological upgrades; it symbolizes empowerment, resilience and progress. We are positive that we shall make great steps in achieving our goal of ensuring access to reliable and cost-effective solar energy,” Matovu said on October 15,2024.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mott Foundation vice-president Neal Hegarty, while Buganda attorney general and board member of Kabaka Foundation and the Speaker of Buganda Lukiiko Owek. Patrick Luwagga Mugumbule testified on behalf of Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga.

Mugumbule welcomed the partnership saying it will help the farming communities gain more skills in solar energy usage which will promote sustainable development in the Kingdom.

Mugulumbe said the kingdom is involved in coffee farming on a large scale and is looking out for markets and that they have already signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) to further the agriculture agenda.

Hegarty said the initiative is one of the many that they plan to undertake to help smallholder farmers, who are vulnerable to the changing weather to adapt.

While climate change is happening globally, particularly affecting the most vulnerable communities, the foundation felt that it would be nice to help such farmers understand the importance of renewable energy.