Africa-Press – Uganda. The State Minister for ICT, Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, has launched the Solar M7 initiative, a mobile and affordable solar kit designed to provide clean energy and promote digital inclusion for rural households in Uganda.
The initiative was officially launched on Thursday morning at the Minister’s residence in Kampala.
During the launch, Ssebugwawo addressed the media, explaining that the project aims to reach homes and communities that have long been without electricity.
She emphasised that this launch represents not just the introduction of a product, but the beginning of a movement focused on bringing light, power, and opportunities to those in greatest need, particularly in remote areas.
“For far too long, many of our people—especially women, children, and elders in remote village—have lived in darkness. Not by choice, but because they cannot afford the electricity that others take for granted. Even in areas where power lines pass overhead, many homes remain dark every night,” Ssebugwawo explained.
The minister pointed out that despite the presence of power lines in some rural areas, the high costs associated with connection and usage have left many homes without power.
She believes that Solar M7 will significantly change this situation.
“Even in areas where power lines pass overhead, many homes remain dark every night.
This is not just a power problem, it is a poverty problem, a development problem, and a barrier to participating in the digital economy of our time.” Ssebugwawo
*An Innovation Born Out of Necessity*
Solar M7 was co-founded by Innocent Kawooya, Henry Lutwama, and Ssebugwawo, with the goal of reaching the most underserved households—those farthest from existing infrastructure.
Lutwama, a co-founder of the initiative, explained that the idea emerged when him and Ssebugwawo embarked on equipping rural schools with computers, only to discover that many students came from homes without electricity.
He stated that this realization led to the creation of Solar M7- a compact, mobile, and affordable solar home kit designed for universal use.
“We developed Solar M7 after traveling across various parts of the country with Minister Ssebugwawo while distributing computers, and we noticed that in the communities where we provided these computers, children lacked access to lighting,” Lutwama shared.
He added, “This means that even if they learn something at school, it becomes difficult for them to revise it at home. That’s why we came up with this idea to support these learners and mothers in rural areas.”
Lutwama mentioned that while full details about the kit’s features will be revealed during the campaign rollout, the project promises seven powerful components that set it apart in its category, including a solar panel, four bulbs, and a battery capable of charging phones, among other features.
Solar M7 is more than just a technological solution. It is a catalyst for education, entrepreneurship, health, and community development.
Sebugwawo passionately described, the kit will help light homes, charge phones, enable schoolwork, and empower small businesses, even in the most remote corners of the country.
The launch also served as a rallying call to governments, donors, and development partners to support the mission.
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