How Solar Energy Turned Around a Rural Mbale School

By Mulengera Reporters

For years, unreliable electricity threatened the future of Good Journey Nursery and Primary School in Kilulu B Village, high in the hills of Mbale District.

Frequent power outages disrupted lessons, cut short evening study sessions, and limited preparation time for pupils sitting national examinations. Plans to expand the school with a boarding section remained on hold, while administrators struggled to provide a conducive learning environment for learners.

Today, however, the school is telling a different story—one powered by solar energy.

Founded in 2016 by Simon Malenje, the Local Council I Chairperson, and his partner Grace Kayegi, Good Journey Nursery and Primary School was established to provide quality education to children from the surrounding community, including many from low-income and orphaned backgrounds.

Their vision was simple: ensure that no child is denied an education because of their circumstances.

But despite growing demand for education in the area, unreliable grid electricity remained a major obstacle.

Power outages struck as often as three times a week and could last for more than six hours at a time. The blackouts affected both teaching and learning, making it difficult to conduct evening revision classes and early morning preparation sessions.

“The unstable electricity affected not only study schedules but also enrollment,” says Kayegi, who manages the school. “Learners often had to return home early, limiting their learning hours. Our candidates suffered most because they did not get enough time to read.”

The situation became increasingly concerning as the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) approached. Primary Seven candidates needed more study time, yet unreliable electricity continued to interrupt learning. Alternatives such as candles and kerosene lamps were costly, unsafe, and unsustainable.

Determined to find a lasting solution, the school invested in solar energy.

Through Sun King, a leading solar provider in Uganda, the school acquired a Home Plus Pro solar system at a discounted price. Equipped with high-efficiency lighting and a long-lasting battery, the system is capable of powering classrooms throughout the night on a single charge.

The investment was supported through the Results-Based Financing (RBF) Programme, a partnership involving Equity Bank Uganda, Energizing Development (EnDev) Uganda, and GIZ. The programme provides incentives to solar companies, helping schools, households, and small businesses access quality renewable energy products at reduced costs.

The results were almost immediate.

Installed just weeks before national examinations, the solar system enabled pupils to study consistently in the evenings and prepare for classes in the early morning without interruption. Teachers were able to organize study schedules more effectively, while learners benefited from a more stable learning environment.

Within a year, enrollment increased from 250 to 310 pupils and continues to grow. School revenue rose from Shs3.5 million to Shs5 million per term, while demand for teachers increased, creating new employment opportunities within the community.

“With stable lighting, our candidates now have more time to concentrate on their studies,” says Malenje. “Better performance in national examinations attracts more learners, which allows us to hire more teachers and create jobs. As village chairman, I am proud that children who might otherwise be idle now have a chance at a better future.”

The impact has extended beyond academics.

Reliable lighting has improved safety around the school, reduced dependence on expensive fuel-based alternatives, and strengthened confidence among parents and guardians. The school is now better positioned to deliver on its mission of expanding access to education in the community.

Encouraged by the progress, school management is planning to expand the solar installation to power the entire institution, including teachers’ quarters and a future boarding section. Longer-term plans include introducing a solar-powered water pumping system that would provide clean water to both the school and the surrounding community.

If realized, the project would transform Good Journey Nursery and Primary School into a fully equipped education hub serving Kilulu B and neighbouring villages.

For Malenje and Kayegi, the experience has demonstrated that access to reliable energy can be just as important as classrooms and teachers in delivering quality education.

What started as an effort to keep the lights on has evolved into a catalyst for growth, helping the school attract more learners, improve study conditions, create jobs, and expand opportunities for children in one of Mbale’s rural communities.

At Good Journey Nursery and Primary School, solar energy has not only illuminated classrooms—it has helped illuminate a brighter future for hundreds of learners. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).