Solar Energy for Africa, a US-based organization, will build a solar system assembly plant in Entebbe, Uganda, the first of its kind in east Africa, local press reported on Saturday.

Solar power is cheaper and cleaner than diesel generators because it is from the dependable sunlight.

Managing director of Solar Energy for Africa Richard Kanyika said the plant would assemble solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, solar lights and lanterns and heater kits.

"We want to fight poverty by providing villages with affordable power. It will cost 3.4 million dollars to run the assembly lines in about two years," he said.

"We expected to grow by 10 percent annually for the first 10 years, serving Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya," Kanyika added.

Source: Xinhua