Ugandan tycoon Patrick Bitature’s Simba Telecom ventures into Africa’s booming solar energy market
The partnership with d.light, a pioneering manufacturer of affordable and reliable solar products, is expected to help Simba Telecom achieve its goals of expanding its reach and deepening its offerings in the region’s fast-growing solar energy market.
KAMPALA - Private sector investors have appealed to government to prioritize and invest more in promoting the use of renewable energy for example solar energy to boost access to electricity in the country. According to reports from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, access to the national main grid is at 19%.
While signing the partnership between Simba Telecom Limited and d.Light Uganda Limited to distribute solar powered solutions across the Country, Dr. Patrick Bitature the Umeme board of directors Chairperson and founder Simba Group, said solar energy should be supported because it is renewable, abundant and accessible to most people, especially in rural areas, where access to the main electricity grid is limited.
“Across the world, governments strongly advocate the promotion of solar energy alongside the main electricity grid. This partnership is to empower people without access to reliable electricity with affordable, high-quality solar powered solutions and access to clean energy,” Dr. Bitature stated.
Under the partnership, Simba Telecom Uganda will expand its product offerings to include d.light’s high-quality solar powered products, including solar home systems, solar lanterns, and portable solar chargers will now be available at Simba Telecom Uganda’s retail stores nationwide, making them more accessible to customers throughout the country.
The partnership with d.light, a pioneering manufacturer of affordable and reliable solar products, is expected to help Simba Telecom achieve its goals of expanding its reach and deepening its offerings in the region’s fast-growing solar energy market.
The partnership, according to Bitature, the chairman of Simba Group, reflects the group’s commitment to empowering people without access to reliable electricity with affordable, innovative products and services, as well as their dedication to supporting the government’s efforts to power every house in the country.
“We are excited to partner with d.light to provide our customers access to affordable and reliable solar solutions. This partnership aligns with our commitment as Simba Group to power every house in the country and provide innovative products and services that meet the needs of our customers,” he said.
Bitature pointed out that with Uganda’s population currently estimated at over 45 million people and Umeme, the country’s largest energy distributor, only providing electricity to about 14 million people in the country, there is a significant gap that can only be filled with solar connectivity.
He emphasized that the partnership with d.light will enable Ugandans to access affordable solar products on a pay-as-you-go basis for up to 1.5 years, removing the financial barrier to entry for many customers who may not be able to afford a one-time fee for a solar product.
Meanwhile, d.light group CEO Nick Imudia said Ugandans would have to access to affordable solar products on a pay-as-you-go basis for one-and-a-half years. He added that the PayGo approach is a revolutionary approach to purchasing solar products.
