ISA Set to Increase Solar Deployment in Uganda

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Government of Uganda have agreed to formalise a comprehensive Country Partnership Framework (CPF), set to be inked in May 2024 during Uganda’s high-level visit to India.

This important document was agreed upon during ISA’s highly successful mission to Uganda, which has created new pathways for solar energy development in the region.

The ISA delegates, led by Dr Barakat Ahmed, ISA’s African Regional Programs Head, engaged in dynamic discussions and strategic meetings to accelerate solar initiatives and forge stronger ties with Uganda's energy sector.

During the mission, high-level consultations took place with senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, including a meeting with Hon. Sidronius Opolot Okasai, The State Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary, and Dr Brian E. Isabirye, ISA’s National Focal Point and Commissioner of Renewable Energy.

The government of Uganda is also processing a voluntary contribution for ISA initiatives. This process, discussed during ISA’s Assemblies in 2022 and 2023, through which Member Countries demonstrate their commitment to green transition by voluntarily contributing to ISA pursuits, will strengthen ISA’s work and foster collaboration among nations towards achieving solar energy goals. By pooling resources and expertise, nations unite in a common goal, driving the solar revolution globally forward.

Significant outcomes of the mission included accelerating the solar mini-grid project, a commendable effort to address Uganda's energy access challenge, and advancing the solar water pumping project under the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Fund. New areas of cooperation were also explored, such as establishing a Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre (STAR-C), which is  ISA’s initiative to foster the development of essential human capacities and skills within the population of a Member Country and the extension of regulatory support across a wide array of areas including solar home systems and e-mobility. Prospects for support to Uganda in the field of green hydrogen and the benefits Uganda could reap from ISA's financing mechanisms, including the Global Solar Facility and Viability Gap Funding, were also reviewed.

"Uganda has greatly benefited from all capacity-building programmes offered by the International Solar Alliance. We look forward to enhancing this collaboration through a series of tailored training sessions addressing Uganda's specific solar sector needs. One such area under discussion is the Advanced Solar Project Financing Training, which ISA will conduct exclusively for Uganda,” noted Dr Brian E. Isabirye, ISA’s National Focal Point in Uganda. The unwavering commitment of ISA and Uganda to this partnership was solidified with the agreement on the CPF, which outlines all areas of engagement.

Reflecting on the mission's culmination, Dr Barakat Ahmed, ISA’s African Regional Programs Head, acknowledged, "The recent ISA mission to Uganda aimed to accelerate ongoing collaborations and explore new avenues for solar energy development. Discussions focused on both existing partnerships and untapped collaboration opportunities. The agreement to sign a Country Partnership Framework, which serves as the guiding light for ISA's relationships with its Member Countries, marks a significant step forward and demonstrates a commitment to mutual benefit and the growth of solar-powered solutions."

The conclusion of the ISA mission to Uganda marks a significant milestone in the journey towards solar empowerment. With renewed vigour and strengthened partnerships, ISA and Uganda embark on a shared mission to harness the boundless energy of the sun, illuminating hope and powering progress across the region.