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- Background: Why Uganda is a key market
- SolarNow Uganda
- Fenix International (ENGIE Energy Access)
- Greenlight Planet Uganda
- UltraTec (Uganda)
- Barefoot Power Africa
- Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA Projects)
- Chinese EPCs (CWE, Sinohydro, AVIC)
- NGO & Donor Programs (UNDP, World Bank, AfDB)
- Local SMEs and Councils
- Comparison of Key Players
- Final Takeaway
-
Work With Sunlurio
Background: Why Uganda is a key market
Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in East Africa, under 30% in rural districts. Cities like Kampala, Gulu, and Jinja rely on grid power, but outages are frequent. The government, through UNRA and Ministry of Energy, is pushing solar lighting along highways and trading centers.
UNDP and World Bank programs have funded hundreds of solar street lights in rural towns. NGOs often push for school and health center lighting. EPC contractors in Uganda need suppliers who can give donor paperwork and handle tough site conditions (dust, rain, vandalism).
SolarNow is one of the most known renewable companies in Uganda. They sell solar kits, but also supply solar street lights for councils and donor projects.
Case Example: In 2021 SolarNow installed 200 solar lights in Kampala suburbs under a city council safety project.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong nationwide network | Not specialized in big EPC |
| Trusted by NGOs | Specs mid-range |
| Easy financing options | Limited highway capacity |
Fenix International (ENGIE Energy Access)
Fenix (now part of ENGIE) is big in home solar. In Uganda, they also supply solar street lights under rural access programs.
Case Example: In 2020 Fenix deployed 150 street lights in Northern Uganda as part of a refugee camp electrification program.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Backed by ENGIE | Street lighting is not main focus |
| Financing models | Systems entry-level |
| Strong rural coverage | Limited for city roads |
Greenlight Planet Uganda
Known for SunKing products, Greenlight Planet is active in Uganda. They mainly target rural lighting, but also supply solar street lights for donor-funded pilots.
Case Example: In 2019 they supplied 100 solar lights for schools in Jinja through an NGO program.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Strong donor partnerships | Focus more on lanterns |
| Affordable | Specs not for highways |
| Good community reach | Small projects only |
UltraTec is a Ugandan engineering firm, providing solar PV, inverters, and lighting. They are often engaged by government and private estates.
Case Example: In 2022 UltraTec supplied 180 solar lights in Kampala industrial zones.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Local engineering presence | Medium scale only |
| Strong in private estates | Not donor leader |
| Reliable O&M | Limited rural reach |
Barefoot Power is an early player in solar kits. In Uganda they also do small-scale solar street lights, often in rural towns.
Case Example: In 2020 Barefoot supplied 120 solar lights in Mbale rural trading centers, backed by an NGO.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| NGO-trusted | Not big EPC |
| Affordable systems | Mid-range specs |
| Rural focus | Not fit for highways |
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA Projects)
UNRA includes solar street lights in road projects, especially highways around Kampala.
Case Example: In 2021 UNRA installed 400 solar lights on Kampala-Entebbe Expressway with EPC partners.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Large-scale highway projects | Bureaucratic |
| Government-backed | Slow payments |
| Donor co-financed | Hard entry for SMEs |
Chinese EPCs (CWE, Sinohydro, AVIC)
Chinese EPCs are very active in Uganda, tied to roads and power projects. They install solar lights as part of turnkey packages.
Case Example: In 2020 Sinohydro deployed 500 solar lights along Jinja road expansion.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Scale + financing | Bureaucratic |
| Donor-compatible | Not flexible |
| Handle highways well | Local firms sidelined |
NGO & Donor Programs (UNDP, World Bank, AfDB)
Donors like UNDP and World Bank fund solar lights for rural towns, schools, health centers. EPCs execute with local partners.
Case Example: In 2022 UNDP funded 300 solar street lights for Gulu trading centers, supplied by SolarNow.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Financing secure | Long paperwork |
| Trusted by government | Specs fixed |
| Good for EPC partnerships | Slow rollout |
Local SMEs supply small-scale solar lights for councils, schools, estates. Examples: Aptech Africa, Innovex.
Case Example: In 2021 Aptech Africa installed 80 solar lights in Lira rural schools.
Advantages vs Limitations
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Local flexible firms | Small scale |
| Affordable | Specs vary |
| Council-friendly | Limited donor compliance |
| Company | Strength | Example Project | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SolarNow | Local, NGO trusted | 200 units Kampala, 2021 | City councils |
| Fenix/ENGIE | International, rural | 150 units North Uganda, 2020 | Refugee/rural |
| Greenlight Planet | Donor-focused | 100 units Jinja schools, 2019 | NGO |
| UltraTec | Local EPC | 180 units Kampala, 2022 | Estates/industrial |
| Barefoot Power | Rural focus | 120 units Mbale, 2020 | Small towns |
| UNRA | Highway projects | 400 units Entebbe road, 2021 | Highways |
| Chinese EPCs | Scale + finance | 500 units Jinja road, 2020 | PPP roads |
| NGO Projects | Secure funding | 300 units Gulu, 2022 | Rural donor |
| Aptech Africa | Flexible SME | 80 units Lira, 2021 | Schools |
| Innovex | Council partner | Small council projects | Estates |
Uganda’s solar street light market is donor-driven and urban-focused.
- Highways and big roads: UNRA + Chinese EPCs dominate.
- Cities and estates: SolarNow, UltraTec fit.
- Rural and NGO projects: Fenix, Greenlight, Barefoot, Aptech.
But the main problem stays: many suppliers don’t meet IEC/ISO standards, and many systems last only 2–3 years. EPCs who want to win tenders and keep projects working need compliance-ready partners. That is where Sunlurio can step in.
For Uganda, we provide EPCs with:
- IEC, CE, ISO paperwork for donor tenders
- 230 lm/W LEDs (brighter, lower OPEX)
- 6000-cycle LiFePO₄ batteries (longer life)
- Hot-dip galvanized poles, ISO 12944 tested
- 720 h salt spray resistance for durability in Kampala weather
👉 Don’t risk with weak suppliers. Partner with Sunlurio and secure your tender.
