Nestled among the rolling hills of Mbale District, Kilulu B village is experiencing a quiet transformation powered not by large infrastructure projects or government programs, but by the sun.
At the heart of this change is Good Journey Nursery and Primary School, a community institution that has become a symbol of hope for hundreds of children from low-income and vulnerable families.
For years, the school battled a challenge familiar to many rural communities across Uganda: unreliable electricity.
Founded in 2016 by community leaders Malenje Simon, the Local Council I Chairperson, and Grace Kayegi, the school's director, Good Journey Nursery and Primary School was established with a clear mission—to ensure that every child in the community has access to quality education regardless of their background.
Today, the school serves more than 300 learners, including many orphans and children from disadvantaged households. However, achieving that mission became increasingly difficult due to persistent power outages.
Electricity blackouts occurred several times each week, often lasting more than six hours. The interruptions disrupted lessons, limited study opportunities, and affected the school's ability to provide a conducive learning environment.
"The unstable electricity affected not only study schedules but also enrollment," says Kayegi. "Learners often had to return home early, and our Primary Seven candidates preparing for national examinations lost valuable study time."
The impact was particularly severe for pupils preparing for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). Without reliable lighting, evening revision classes and early morning preparation sessions became nearly impossible.
The school's ambitions to establish a boarding section were also put on hold due to safety concerns associated with unreliable power supply.
As the 2025 PLE examinations approached, school administrators knew they needed a sustainable solution.
Traditional alternatives such as candles and kerosene lamps were expensive, unsafe, and posed health risks to learners and staff.
That solution came in the form of solar energy.
Through Sun King, one of Uganda's leading solar energy providers, the school acquired a Home Plus Pro solar system. The package includes high-efficiency lighting and a long-lasting battery capable of powering classrooms throughout the night.
Installed just weeks before national examinations, the impact was immediate.
For the first time, learners could attend uninterrupted evening study sessions and participate in early morning revision classes without worrying about power cuts.
"The difference has been remarkable," says Malenje. "Our candidates now have enough time to concentrate on their studies. The learning environment has improved significantly."
The investment was made possible through the Results-Based Financing (RBF) Programme, a partnership involving Equity Bank Uganda, Energizing Development (EnDev) Uganda, and GIZ.
The initiative supports access to clean energy by providing incentives to solar suppliers, enabling schools, households, and small businesses to acquire high-quality solar products at affordable prices.
By reducing the upfront costs of solar technology, the programme is helping bridge the energy access gap in underserved communities where reliable grid electricity remains limited.
The results at Good Journey Nursery and Primary School have been tangible.
Within a year, student enrollment increased from 250 to 310 learners. School revenue grew from Shs3.5 million to Shs5 million per term, while demand for additional teaching staff has risen to support the growing student population.
The benefits extend beyond academics.
Improved lighting has enhanced safety around the school, increased confidence among parents, and created a more stable environment for both learners and teachers.
"Better performance attracts more learners," Malenje explains. "As enrollment grows, we are able to hire more teachers and create employment opportunities. As village chairman, I am proud that children who might otherwise be idle now have a chance to build a better future."
Encouraged by the success, the school now plans to expand its solar infrastructure to power the entire campus, including teachers' residences and a proposed boarding section.
The long-term vision is even more ambitious.
School leaders hope to install a solar-powered water pumping system that would provide clean water to both the school and surrounding communities.
If realized, the project would transform Good Journey Nursery and Primary School into a fully equipped educational hub serving thousands of residents across Kilulu B and neighbouring villages.
For many rural schools across Uganda, inadequate infrastructure continues to hinder educational outcomes. Yet the experience in Kilulu demonstrates how renewable energy can help close that gap.
Reliable electricity has translated into longer study hours, improved learning outcomes, higher enrollment, job creation, and renewed optimism for the future.
As the sun sets over the Mbale highlands, the glow emanating from Good Journey's classrooms tells a powerful story—one of resilience, innovation, and a community harnessing clean energy to unlock opportunity.
In Kilulu B, solar panels are doing more than generating electricity.
They are lighting the path to a brighter future.