A #100DaysofSolar Human Impact Story from Kamengo, Mpigi District, Uganda

For Yiga Martia, nights once felt like something to survive rather than live through.

At 55 years old, the farmer from Kamengo, Mpigi District carries the responsibility of raising abandoned grandchildren, stepping into the role of caregiver, protector, and provider when the children needed someone most.

But before Solar M7 arrived, darkness made that responsibility painfully difficult.

Inside the home, the nights were filled with accidents, frustration, and fear. Martia often stumbled in the darkness, leaving him with bruises, scars, and constant physical pain. Every movement after sunset felt risky, especially while trying to care for the children depending on him.

Eventually, he began laying his bed very early each evening.

Not because he was tired.

But because darkness itself had become dangerous.

For Martia, the nights no longer represented rest.

They represented limitation. Fear. And the feeling that life had to stop when the sun disappeared.

Then Solar M7 arrived. And suddenly, the evenings inside his home began to change.

Today, reliable solar light fills the house after sunset, allowing Martia and the children to move safely and comfortably through the night. The fear of falling has reduced. The home feels calmer. And the evenings no longer end in frustration and anxiety.

For the first time in a long while, nighttime feels peaceful again.

“Before Solar M7, darkness made life difficult because moving around at night often caused injuries,” Martia shared during his interview. “Now the home feels safe, and I no longer fear the night the way I once did.”

According to Doreen Nanfuka, caregivers supporting vulnerable children often face enormous physical and emotional pressure when homes remain unsafe after dark.

“When households gain reliable light, it improves safety, confidence, and emotional wellbeing for both caregivers and children,” Doreen explained. “It helps families feel protected and stable again.”

Innocent Kawooya says stories like Martia’s reveal how energy access restores dignity and resilience for families carrying heavy responsibilities.

“Reliable light helps people continue caring for loved ones without fear and unnecessary risk,” he noted. “It creates safer homes and stronger families.”

Today, nights inside Martia’s home no longer feel ruled by danger. The children move safely. The house feels calm. And in a home where darkness once left a grandfather bruised and exhausted, Solar M7 is now helping restore something deeply important.

Safety. Strength. And the confidence to keep standing for the family depending on him.

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