By Abdi Ali
Published July 26, 2019
A next-generation energy company operating across five countries in Africa that relocated its global headquarters from San Francisco to Kampala in September of 2018 to invest in and help grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Uganda, has paid a courtesy call on President Yoweri Museveni.
The company, known as Fenix International, says it shifted its base from USA to Uganda to centre its ‘operations as close to their rural, off-grid customers as possible, and to catalyze an ambitious pan-African expansion plan’.
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During the visit at State House, Nakasero, On March 30, 2019, the team from Fenix International Inc engaged Museveni on renewable energy sector opportunities and measures necessary to expand access and affordability of solar home systems, accessories and appliances.
The team also updated the President on the socio-economic impact of the company since relocating head office to Kampala:
- Fenix provides employment with training programmes, health insurance, savings schemes, and career growth opportunities to more than 450 full-time Ugandans and more than 1500 commission-based agents in every district of Uganda
- Fenix has built software and hardware engineering and operations teams in Uganda and is training many recent Ugandan engineering graduates
- Fenix has established a solar home system kitting, quality assurance, and repair center in Luzira
Fenix has connected more than 350000 homes in Uganda to date with affordable, clean energy solutions – translating into 1.5 million citizens that now benefit from clean, renewable access to energy - Fenix made over 160000 electricity connections in 2018 alone (800,000 people) and projects to connect another 250,000 households in 2019 (1,000,000 people)
- Fenix is determined to expand its footprint in Uganda and Africa through a strengthened partnership with the government of Uganda and collaboration with energy sector stakeholders.
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Lyndsay Handler, CEO of Fenix, said, “President Museveni’s commitment to improving energy access in Uganda was made clear today, with his promise to strengthen the environment for doing business and to pursue interventions that make Solar Home Systems, accessories, and appliances affordable to millions of Ugandans”
On his part, Morrison Rwakakamba, Global Senior Director of Policy at Fenix, said, “We look forward to working with the President, energy ministry and sector agencies to create a set of policies and actions that will allow Uganda to become the worldwide leader in clean, renewable energy for millions off-grid households. This will indeed accelerate transformation”.
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President Museveni reaffirmed commitment to Fenix and support to expand energy access, drive sector innovations and deepen financial services. He asked Fenix to encourage other global and scale companies to set up global headquarters in Uganda.
