Kampala — THE first solar system assembly plant in East Africa worth $3.4m (sh6b) will be built in Entebbe by Solar Energy.

The American ambassador, Jimmy Kolker, performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday by planting a tree on the site at Mirza Road, Manyago.

"This is a good example of self sustaining private-public enterprises. Solar power is cheaper and cleaner than diesel generators because it is from the dependable sunlight," Kolker said.

The managing director of Solar Energy, Richard Kanyike, said the plant would assemble solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, solar lights and lanterns and heater kits.

"We want to fight poverty by providing villages with affordable power. It will cost $3.4m to run the assembly lines in about two years," he said.

"We expect to grow by 10% annually for the first 10 years, serving Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya," Kanyike said.

The retired Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh, Alden Hathaway, also founder of Solar Light for Africa attended.