Lockdown measures and travel restrictions have presented unprecedented challenges to individuals and businesses alike. People have found themselves unable to interact and socialize in ways we have always considered to be quintessentially human. Businesses, whose fortunes rely on the movement of people, could be forgiven for thinking that their customers have vanished into the ether.

However, as is usually the case, the need for survival offers fertile ground for the sprouting of hope. Around the world, technological solutions have been vital in providing much-needed intervention. For instance, COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation, and many are looking for ways to rethink and adjust to their individual ‘new normal’. Every passing day brings an increase in the frequency of Zoom calls and Webinars. Many publicly advertised discussions focus on; realigning business models and pivoting to meet customers in their homes.

The key to the success of these interventions is internet connectivity. At the bare minimum, one needs a Wi-Fi or cellular data package to participate or leverage the information shared on these platforms. But this Wi-Fi connection also relies on a stable and reliable power source. Therefore, the energy systems (e.g., affordable electricity infrastructure) that power these technologies are critical.

For a small business owner striving to survive through the current pandemic, technology has become a lifeline. In the wake of social distancing, online platforms like Facebook provide an alternative to market access. However, these alternatives are not equally accessible. Take for instance the street hawker who relies on rush hour traffic to sell their merchandise or the local merchants (e.g shops in kikuubo) burdened by the yoke of unsold inventory. Without inclusive solutions, they will have limited opportunities to reach their market. The easing of the current lockdown measures offers some respite, but it will take time to make a full recovery.

At the risk of stating the obvious, for local businesses to graduate from survival to revival, there is an urgent need for affordable energy access. Now, energy access isn't just about turning on the lights anymore. Energy access includes infrastructure for residential and commercial lighting, cooking, heating, electrical appliances, as well as powering industrial processes. There are conflicting reports regarding electricity access in Uganda. Some estimate access at over 40% while others estimate a much lower 23%. This relatively lower level of access to electricity inevitably contributes to the high internet costs and constrains efforts to deliver the connectivity agenda.

Innovators in the energy sector continue to offer solutions to deal with last-mile energy access. Some include affordable pay-as-you-go energy alternatives from companies like Fenix, M-kopa, and BBOXX. While this may present progress, in moving closer to the nirvana of 100% equitable access, there is still a need for more stakeholder engagement to foster more partnership and innovation. So the question remains, how do we have discussions about advancing into the digital age when a significant portion of the population still lacks basic electricity access?

We must rethink and reshape our energy landscape, prioritizing the livelihoods of those in underserved areas. Some of these areas will invariably include our cultural and ancestral homes. Resolving these issues will not only offer hope to businesses and livelihoods still embroiled in a slugfest with the pandemic but also an opportunity for us to embark on a journey that leads to our eventual collective economic and social salvation.