CARITAS GULU ARCHDIOCESE LIGHTS UP NEGRI SCHOOLS WITH SOLAR POWER

SPEA Energy Officer Barnabas Oloya hands over the solar power equipment to the Head teacher of Bishop Angelo Negri College.

By Proscovia Achomo

Gulu City

Caritas Gulu Archdiocese, with support from Horizont3000 under the Solar Pledge East Africa Project, has donated solar power equipment to Bishop Angelo Negri College and Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School to address persistent electricity challenges affecting learning activities at the two institutions.

For Bishop Angelo Negri College, whose motto is “Light in Darkness,” the donation offers renewed hope of overcoming years of unreliable electricity supply, which has often disrupted lessons and learners’ preparation for examinations.

Installation of the solar systems is expected to begin soon, with the intervention anticipated to provide a more reliable electricity supply and improve the learning environment in both schools.

Barnabas Oloya, the Energy Officer for the Solar Pledge East Africa Project, said the initiative began in June 2024 with an assessment of schools and health facilities across the Archdiocese of Gulu to establish their electricity needs.

He revealed that the first phase of implementation supported 10 institutions, comprising eight schools and two health centers, through the installation of solar power systems.

Oloya said the project is now entering its second phase, which targets an additional 10 institutions, including eight schools and two health centers, with plans for further interventions to extend the support to more schools and health facilities across the Archdiocese.

He noted that many institutions continue to experience unreliable electricity supply, while some have no access to power at all, a situation that affects learning activities and the delivery of essential services.

“The project is addressing a very big challenge that exists in many schools and health facilities. Some institutions experience frequent power blackouts, while others do not have access to electricity altogether. Through this intervention, we are not only installing solar power systems but also empowering these institutions with the knowledge and capacity to maintain the systems and ensure their sustainability,” Oloya said.

He added that the initiative goes beyond physical solar installations, as it also seeks to strengthen the capacity of beneficiary institutions to manage the systems sustainably and improve service delivery across schools and health facilities within the Archdiocese of Gulu.

Oloya further revealed that the Solar Pledge East Africa Project is a three-year pilot initiative, expected to conclude in May 2027, with an estimated investment of 1.5 billion shillings.

He said that although the current project is scheduled to end next year, additional interventions are expected to follow to extend solar power support to more schools and health facilities across the Archdiocese.

Ann Lamwaka Lubwa, Headteacher of Bishop Angelo Negri College, welcomed the intervention, saying frequent power outages had previously disrupted learning, particularly during school terms and Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) examinations.

She revealed that about three months ago, Caritas Gulu officials visited the institution to assess its lighting situation and establish the electricity challenges affecting learning, during which the school explained its persistent power interruptions.

Lubwa noted that the College had experienced electricity blackouts lasting more than five days, a situation she said negatively affected learners’ academic performance.

“Here in Negri Village, where the college is located, we have always experienced electricity challenges. At times, during school terms and UNEB examinations, we would go for more than five days without power, which affected the performance of our learners. With this intervention, I believe one of our biggest challenges will be addressed, leading to improved academic performance,” Lubwa said.

She expressed deep appreciation to Caritas Gulu for the support, pledging that the College would take good care of the solar power system to ensure its proper maintenance and long-term sustainability.

Pupils of Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School express joy after receiving solar power equipment donated by Caritas Gulu Archdiocese.

Similarly, Mercy Ocwee, Headteacher of Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School, welcomed the intervention, saying it would ease the institution’s long-standing electricity challenges, which have sometimes left the school without power for up to two weeks.

Ocwee explained that frequent power interruptions, resulting from fallen electricity poles and storm-related damage, had affected learners’ ability to study, particularly candidates preparing for examinations.

She expressed relief that the solar support had come at a critical time when candidates were facing difficulties due to the lack of electricity.

“We have been facing serious challenges with our lighting system. Sometimes the school would go for up to two weeks without electricity because of fallen poles and other related problems, including storms. During such periods, learners could not study effectively. I am very grateful because I had spent the whole week praying for a miracle for our candidates, especially after we went through the previous week without power. With the solar system now provided, our children will no longer have to face such challenges once installation is completed,” Ocwee said.

Under the intervention, Bishop Angelo Negri College received eight solar panels, each with a capacity of 350 watts, eight 100Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries, a 5-kilowatt hybrid inverter and other essential installation accessories.

Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School received half the equipment supplied to the College, comprising four 350-watt solar panels, four 100Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries, a 5-kilowatt hybrid inverter and other supporting installation accessories.

The solar systems are also expected to enable the two institutions to upgrade their lighting systems to more energy-efficient alternatives, reduce power consumption and create a more conducive learning environment once installation is completed.

For Bishop Angelo Negri College, the intervention gives renewed meaning to its motto, “Light in Darkness.” After years of struggling with unreliable electricity, the solar equipment offers hope for uninterrupted learning, better examination preparation and a brighter academic future for its learners.

Beyond providing electricity, the intervention is expected to strengthen the capacity of both institutions to maintain sustainable energy systems and improve service delivery.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis