The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, hosted the International Solar Alliance (ISA) High-Level Mission from May 4 – 6, 2026 in Kampala.

The mission aimed to accelerate solar deployment, strengthen enabling frameworks, and scale productive-use applications of solar energy, particularly in agriculture. It brought together senior government leaders, development partners, private-sector actors, and delegations from Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and The Gambia under ISA’s Solar Water Pumping Systems initiative.

Officiating at the opening of the mission, Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, the State Minister for Energy, emphasized the strategic importance of solar energy in Uganda’s national development agenda, describing it as a key driver of irrigation, agro-processing, cold storage, rural electrification, job creation and industrialization.

A key milestone of the mission was the signing of the Country Partnership Framework between Uganda and ISA, aimed at unlocking concessional and blended financing, de-risking solar investments, strengthening institutional capacity, and accelerating deployment of scalable solar solutions.

The mission also marked the launch of the Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) at Busitema University, positioning the institution as a regional hub for solar skills development, innovation and applied research.

In this joint interview conducted on the sidelines of the mission, Ashish Khanna, Director General, ISA and Elizabeth Kaijuka Okwenje, Ag Assistant Commissioner for Renewable Energy discuss Uganda’s solar ambitions, financing models, energy security, and the role of solar-powered agriculture in transforming livelihoods across Africa:

Ashish Khanna:

Qn: Give us an overview of the ISA High-Level Mission and why it is important.

AK: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based organisation with 126 member countries, and Uganda is one of its important members. We are here to discuss Africa’s solar strategy because, despite having nearly 60% of the solar radiation data of the world, the continent receives less than 2% of global clean energy investments.

One of the key opportunities lies in helping African farmers access affordable solar-powered irrigation pumps, which can significantly increase agricultural productivity and incomes.

India has already implemented the world’s largest agricultural solarisation programmes, with nearly 2.5 million solar pumps deployed. We therefore brought together delegations from Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, The Gambia and Senegal to learn from Uganda’s experiences and explore how African countries can jointly advance solarisation of agriculture.

This is extremely important because agriculture remains the backbone of many African economies.

Ashish Khanna, Director General ISA

Qn: Why were these specific countries selected, and why is the timing important now?

AK: Eventually, all African countries will need to embrace solarisation. However, these six countries were selected because, during my visits and engagements at ministerial and head-of-state level, they expressed strong interest in prioritising solar-powered agriculture.

The timing is also critical for two reasons.

First, the ongoing crisis in West Asia has increased global fuel prices and exposed the vulnerability of countries that depend heavily on imported petroleum products. Solar energy offers countries permanent and reliable energy security because nobody can take away the sun.

Secondly, solar energy has become far more economical. A diesel-powered irrigation pump can cost a farmer nearly four times more to operate than a solar pump. Solar therefore provides more reliable energy at a much lower long-term cost.

Qn: Uganda wants to increase solar-powered irrigation pumps from about 15,000 to one million according to Hon Okasai. What lessons can Uganda learn from India?

AK: Ten years ago, India had nearly 300 million people without access to electricity, and many farmers lacked reliable power supply. In just a decade, India expanded energy access to those people, increased installed solar capacity from 2 gigawatts to 150 gigawatts, and grew from virtually no solar pumps to 2.5 million, with plans to add another five million by 2030.

That is the kind of transformation Africa should aspire to over the next decade because the continent faces similar development challenges.

We have Mission 300, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans, few countries in Africa have deployed more than 30,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps so far.

For Uganda, the key lesson is that government must develop a clear policy framework. Subsidies should primarily target poor and marginal farmers, while wealthier farmers should receive less support and instead access financing through banks and financial institutions.

The government must determine whether it wants to prioritise diesel replacement, drinking water, irrigation, cooperatives, or specific categories of farmers. Once those priorities are clear, local financial institutions can provide loans to bridge the remaining financing gap beyond the subsidy.

Uganda has huge potential because nearly 68% of its population depends on agriculture. Whether the country eventually deploys one million, half a million or 100,000 pumps will depend on three things: strong policies, sufficient budget allocations for subsidies, and active participation by financial institutions.

Africa urgently needs food security, and food security depends on water. Water, in turn, increasingly depends on solar power.

A farmer waters tomato crops with help from a solar-powered irrigation pump

Qn: How can governments attract financing from private banks alongside public funding?

AK: That is a partnership we want to deepen further.

The ISA is working on an Africa Solar Facility that will provide equity support and risk mitigation for decentralised renewable energy investments, including solar irrigation systems. Uganda can benefit from this if it develops the right schemes and financing structures.

For example, a large commercial farmer with reliable income should be bankable and able to access financing from local financial institutions. Smaller and marginal farmers may require additional support because government alone cannot finance everything at 100%.

Qn: Earlier you said no crisis should be wasted. Why should Africa see the current global fuel crisis as an opportunity to accelerate solar energy adoption?

AK: Most African countries depend heavily on imported petrol, diesel and gas. The current crisis has shown not only how fuel prices can rise sharply, but also how supply itself can become uncertain.

The solution is to electrify as much of the economy as possible.

Today, most vehicles still run on petrol or diesel. African countries should accelerate electric mobility, including electric buses, motorcycles and cars. However, this also increases electricity demand.

What energy source can Uganda fully rely on? The sun – since no one can take it away.

By investing heavily in solar energy, combined with storage technologies, countries can achieve long-term energy security while reducing dependence on imported fuels.

The same applies to expanding electricity access. Countries should increasingly rely on solar and hydropower because those resources are within their own control. This crisis should therefore encourage governments to adopt stronger policies and accelerate investments in renewable energy.

There are also opportunities in rooftop solar systems. Hotels, industries, factories and commercial buildings can all reduce energy costs and dependence on the national grid through rooftop solar installations.

Qn: Many Ugandan farmers consider solar equipment expensive. How can this challenge be addressed?

AK: The perception that solar energy is expensive is not entirely accurate. Solar is actually cheaper over the long term than most other forms of electricity because it is largely a one-time investment that can provide energy for over 20 years.

The real challenge is the upfront cost.

That is why financing mechanisms are so important. If farmers can access loans or financing schemes with manageable monthly repayments, solar equipment becomes much more affordable.

This is why strong partnerships with financial institutions, combined with quality assurance and standardisation, are critical.

Qn: Uganda has traditionally relied on concessional financing for energy projects, yet you advocate greater private-sector investment. Why?

AK: If you look at countries that have successfully expanded solar energy – such as South Africa, Egypt, India, Vietnam and Indonesia – more than 90% of solar investments have come from the private sector, not governments.

African countries therefore need to focus on creating the right policies and regulations to attract private investment.

Concessional finance should mainly be used to reduce risks and encourage private investors. For example, through the Africa Solar Facility, ISA can help provide guarantees to banks and investors in case projects face losses.

That should be the real role of concessional financing – de-risking investments rather than fully funding projects.

Some areas, such as rooftop solar, electric mobility and utility-scale solar, are already commercially viable and do not require major subsidies. However, poor and marginal farmers may still need support because they cannot afford the full cost of solar pumps.

Elizabeth Kaijuka Okwenje:

Elizabeth Kaijuka Okwenje

Qn: What is the Ugandan government doing to accelerate solar energy adoption?

EKO: Uganda’s energy policy targets increasing installed solar capacity from the current level of about 90 megawatts to at least 12 gigawatts by 2040.

Uganda is well positioned because we are located on the equator and receive about 12 hours of sunlight daily.

The government has also established enabling financing structures. The Uganda Energy Credit Capitalization Company (UECCC) works with participating financial institutions to provide subsidies and financing support for solar investments.

We are also focusing on quality assurance. Suppliers must meet required standards and provide after-sales services, especially for rural farmers.

Additionally, Uganda provides fiscal incentives, including tax exemptions on solar equipment. Solar energy is a priority under the country’s energy transition plan, which aims to diversify Uganda’s energy mix beyond hydropower.

At the moment, solar is the most commercially viable and readily deployable clean energy solution available to Uganda.

Qn: Is Uganda’s policy and regulatory environment enabling enough for solar energy growth?

EKO: We already have a broad national energy policy that covers all energy technologies. However, discussions are ongoing about developing a more specific standalone solar policy because of the technology’s growing importance and commercial viability.

Uganda already offers an enabling environment through tax incentives and an open market structure that allows private-sector participation.

The main challenge now is quality control and ensuring that solar equipment supplied to Ugandans meets acceptable standards.

Qn: Why should an average Ugandan farmer struggling to survive care about solar pumps, especially amid concerns about fake and poor-quality equipment?

EKO: This is why collaboration with the UECCC is important, since through its initiatives such as the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project supported by the World Bank, subsidies are being provided to rural farmers.

Suppliers are pre-qualified, which helps guarantee product quality and after-sales support. There is also a need to strengthen quality assurance through standards enforcement, potentially including certification marks from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

Farmers also need to understand that climate change has made rainfall less reliable. Rain-fed agriculture alone is no longer sufficient.

Solar water pumps can support irrigation, livestock farming and domestic water supply. Once farmers see how solar technology improves productivity and incomes, adoption will naturally increase.

Behavioural change and public awareness campaigns (like we’ve been doing with clean cooking promotion) will therefore be very important.

Qn: The ISA Director General said the current global fuel crisis makes solar one of the fastest alternatives to deploy. How quickly can Uganda scale up solar energy?

EKO: Solar energy can be deployed very quickly because Uganda already has the enabling environment and supporting policies in place.

The law has also been amended to support rooftop solar through net metering, which will help accelerate adoption across homes, businesses and industries.

Both utility-scale solar projects and standalone off-grid systems can be rolled out rapidly, especially in rural communities that remain off the national grid – with tax exemptions.

Government’s role is to continue creating awareness, encouraging private-sector participation, ensuring quality standards, and making sure Ugandans have access to reliable and durable solar equipment.

Pictorial: ISA High-Level Mission, Kampala, May 2026