A #100DaysofSolar Human Impact Story from Buteyongera, Mukono District, Uganda
In Buteyongera, Mukono District, 70-year-old Jessica Kayinza and 81-year-old Yowana Namugowa spend their days surrounded by grandchildren who help care for and protect them.
Age has slowed their steps, but not their desire to live with dignity, peace, and connection to the people they love.
Yet before Solar M7 arrived, darkness made every evening feel heavy.
As night approached, fear quietly entered the home with it. Stories of thieves moving through the village unsettled them deeply. The fear of night dancers left many elderly residents anxious after sunset. Even simple movement around the house became difficult and unsafe.
For Jessica and Yowana, nights no longer felt peaceful.
The darkness carried too many worries.
Would the children be safe?
Would someone attempt to enter the home?
Would they manage to move safely if they needed help during the night?
Then Solar M7 came into their household.
And slowly, fear began to lose its power.
Today, the home glows warmly after sunset. Meals are shared comfortably under reliable light. The grandmothers walk more confidently around the house. The grandchildren no longer guard them through complete darkness.
And for the first time in a long while, evenings feel calmer again.
“When the light came, we felt relief,” they shared during their interview. “Now we eat peacefully, move safely, and sleep without as much fear.”
According to Doreen Nanfuka, elderly households often experience energy poverty in deeply emotional ways that are rarely discussed openly.
“For older people, darkness creates fear, isolation, and dependence,” Doreen explained. “Reliable light helps restore confidence, safety, and dignity. It allows elderly people to continue living more independently and comfortably within their communities.”
Innocent Kawooya says protecting elderly people through energy access is an important part of building inclusive communities.
“When older people feel safe and supported, entire families become stronger,” he noted. “Light helps protect health, dignity, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life for some of the most vulnerable members of society.”
Today, nights inside Jessica and Yowana’s home feel different.
Fear no longer controls the evening.
The family gathers under light instead of darkness.
And for two elderly women who once faced every sunset with anxiety, Solar M7 has become far more than electricity.
It has become a lifeline.
Watch the full story of Jessica Kayinza & Yowana Namugowa from Buteyongera, Mukono District, Uganda across our platforms:
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#100DaysofSolar #SolarM7 #IncludeEveryone #EnergyAccess #HumanImpact #Mukono #Uganda #CleanEnergy #HiPipo
