YUMBE – After losing all hope of ever getting electricity, Yumbe Town Council has turned to solar energy to light its streets. Already, more than 50 solar panels have been installed with help from a German organisation, GTZ. The Shs 200 million project will light the streets and nearby schools for the first time.
This is part of the $56 million programme whose agreement was signed recently by the governments of Uganda and Germany to provide electricity to Northern Uganda and West Nile.

The Germans also provided 10 million Euros in December 2008 to support funding for the construction of the Nyagak mini-hydro power plant, install solar power in government-owned institutions and also build power lines to Yumbe, Moyo, Koboko and Panyimur.

Moses Rubenson, the LC-III chairperson Yumbe Town Council, said that phase two of the project begins later this year and will see more parts of this fast-growing town get electricity.

Business now booms beyond 6:00p.m. and criminals have been driven out of the formerly dark corners, he said. Ramadan Buga, a local businessman in the town, told The Observer that he now makes more sales due to the influx of customers at night following the installation of lights.

The Town Clerk, Muzamil Akuma, said that security personnel will protect the solar equipment. He added that tall stands had been erected to minimise theft of the panels.

He thanked Germany for the generous offer. The solar street lighting project is the first of its kind in West Nile as most of the region is without electricity.

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