Gulu, Uganda: A total of 29 Ugandans have completed a specialised training in solar-powered irrigation, aimed at strengthening local capacity to support Uganda’s shift towards renewable energy-driven agriculture.
The skills program, conducted by the SENDEA Institute for Energy and Management, focused on technical design, installation, and operation of solar-powered irrigation systems. The move aligns with government efforts to expand irrigation under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and address the agricultural productivity gap in rural areas.
Alfred Okello Okot, a farmer from Koch Goma in Nwoya District, welcomed the intervention, saying he had long struggled to find skilled technicians locally.
“I’ve been hiring workers from Kampala, over 300 kilometers away, to repair my equipment, which is expensive,” Okello said. “I’m hoping that with this new crop of skilled workers trained by SENDEA, I’ll now access support right here in northern Uganda.”
Okello, who runs an 11-acre horticulture farm powered by solar irrigation, stressed the broader need for technical talent across Uganda’s irrigation sector. “We need agronomists, pump operators, electricians – all kinds of skilled people. It’s a gap hurting not just my project but many others relying on irrigation.”
Among the trainees was 25-year-old electrician Anying Mercy, who said the course equipped her with practical knowledge on various irrigation methods.
“I now understand how different systems work and can support other young people to go into irrigation-led farming, which is not limited by seasons,” she said. “Girls should embrace such opportunities – it’s not just for boys. I’m confident to pursue this as a career.”
The program also attracted older participants like 60-year-old Komakech Abwoch, a retired agricultural extension worker, who believes solar irrigation can resolve land-related tensions. “With irrigation, even a small plot becomes productive. People no longer need to fight over large chunks of land,” he said.
SENDEA Institute CEO Loy Florence Kyozare said the initiative targets a critical skills gap in Uganda’s irrigation sector and supports the country’s wider solar-for-production agenda.
“We launched this training to meet the irrigation sector’s technical demands, support government efforts, and contribute to SDGs on food security and clean energy,” Kyozare said.
Gulu’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Auric Oryem, applauded the initiative, noting its alignment with PDM’s emphasis on skilling and productivity.
“The government is prioritising skilling in programmes like PDM to ensure Ugandans can generate income through agriculture,” he said. “Renewable energy is the future, and it’s where the jobs are.”
Oryem urged the trainees to practice financial discipline and teamwork in order to maximise the opportunities ahead.
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