Entebbe — Solar Energy Uganda Limited, in collaboration with Solar Light For Africa Limited, is to set up a solar assembling plant in Uganda.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony at the plant's site on plot 27, Manyago in Entebbe on August 3, the President of Solar Energy Uganda, Mr John Ssemanda, said the plant, which is estimated to cost $3.4 million will assemble solar panels, controllers, inverters, lanterns, lights and solar water heaters.

"We expect the plant to assemble solar panels of 10, 21, 32, and 65 watts, Inverters of 300, 500, 1000 watts, and controllers of 5,10,20, and 30 watts among others," he said

Ssemanda said the cost of solar energy has been high for an average person because panels and other solar components had to be imported at high costs. The plant is expected to bring down the costs.

He said the plant would serve rural communities in Uganda, Kenya Tanzania, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi Rwanda and Sudan. It is expected to become operational in two years' time.

The American Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Jimmy Kolker, who officiated at the ceremony said people should take advantage of the natural sunshine to improve on their lives.

He said although Uganda greatly depends on hydro electricity, few people have access to it due to its high cost. Kolker commended the stakeholders for promoting private-government partnership geared at enhancing development among the disadvantaged communities.

Solar Light for Africa is a non-profit collaboration between the United States and African churches, non-governmental organisations and governments. It was founded by Retired Episcopal Bishop Alden Hathaway, in 1997, to provide light, power, and water sources for rural Africa using the natural power of the sun.