A #100DaysofSolar Human Impact Story from Kasenge Nakawuka, Uganda

At 73 years old, Mpabonye Charles had grown used to surviving through difficult nights alone.

Inside his fragile grass-thatched home in Kasenge Nakawuka, darkness carried discomfort, fear, and exhaustion into every evening. Insects crawled across the floor and bit him through the night. Animals slipped into the house unseen. And with age making movement slower and more difficult, every sound inside the darkness felt unsettling.

For Charles, nighttime never brought proper rest.

It brought vigilance. Fear. And loneliness.

To cope, he relied on weak torches that failed constantly and drained the little money he had. Even after spending what he could afford on batteries and temporary light, the darkness always returned.

And with it came the feeling that old age had become a struggle instead of a time for peace.

Then Solar M7 arrived. And slowly, the nights inside Charles’ home began to change.

Today, reliable solar light fills the small grass-thatched house after sunset. The darkness that once hid insects and animals no longer controls the space around him. He now sees clearly, moves more confidently, and rests more peacefully through the night.

For the first time in many years, the home feels safe.

And for Charles, safety feels like dignity restored.

“Before Solar M7, nights were very difficult for me,” Charles shared during his interview. “I feared sleeping alone in darkness because of insects and animals entering the house. But now I feel peaceful and able to rest properly again.”

According to Doreen Nanfuka, elderly people living alone are among the most emotionally affected by energy poverty and unsafe nighttime conditions.

“When older people spend years sleeping in fear, it affects their health, emotional wellbeing, and sense of dignity,” Doreen explained. “Reliable light helps restore comfort, confidence, and peace inside the home.”

Innocent Kawooya says stories like Charles’ reveal the deeply human side of energy access initiatives.

“Reliable light is not only about visibility,” he noted. “It is about helping people feel safe, respected, and comfortable inside their own homes regardless of age or income.”

Today, nights inside Charles’ home no longer feel haunted by fear.

The darkness no longer steals his peace.

The fragile house no longer feels dangerous after sunset.

And in a place where old age once felt overwhelmed by discomfort and loneliness, Solar M7 is now helping restore something priceless.

Rest. Comfort. And dignity in the final chapters of life.

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