Sawa Energy Secures EUR 2.5 Million Equity Investment from ElectriFI for Solar Growth
Equity funding to accelerate renewable energy access and replace diesel generators for commercial and industrial clients in Uganda and Rwanda
Kampala, Uganda and Brussels, Belgium – 31 October, 2025 – ElectriFI, the EU-funded Electrification Financing Initiative managed by EDFI Management Company, has announced a EUR 2.5 million equity investment in Sawa Energy, a growing renewable energy company operating in Uganda and Rwanda. This strategic investment, allocated through the Uganda Country Window of ElectriFI, aims to catalyse the expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) and Backup Energy Storage Solutions (BESS) for commercial and industrial (C&I) clients across Uganda.
H.E. Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Uganda: “The European Union, through the ElectriFI initiative, is proud to support Sawa Energy’s mission to deliver sustainable and affordable solar energy solutions in Uganda. This investment not only underscores our commitment to promoting renewable energy in East Africa but also highlights our dedication to empowering local enterprises, reducing carbon emissions, and driving industrialisation growth in the country”
Founded in 2021, Sawa Energy finances, builds, and operates solar and battery projects tailored to the unique consumption needs of businesses. By offering long-term contracts (10-25 years) at discounted rates compared to traditional grid tariffs, Sawa Energy enables clients to access reliable, affordable, and clean electricity. The company also provides comprehensive operations and maintenance services to ensure optimal system performance throughout the contract duration.
Rodrigo Madrazo, CEO of EDFI Management Company stated: “By supporting Sawa Energy’s expansion in Uganda and Rwanda, we are helping to accelerate the transition from polluting diesel generators to reliable, affordable solar power for businesses, creating lasting economic and environmental benefits across the region.”
The equity funding from ElectriFI is designed to unlock an efficient capital structure, attracting additional institutional lenders and investors to support Sawa Energy’s ambitious growth plans in Uganda. This investment will enable Sawa Energy to scale its portfolio, replacing polluting diesel generators with sustainable solar and battery solutions and delivering significant environmental and economic benefits.
Samuel Kaufman, CEO and Co-founder, Sawa Energy added: “At Sawa Energy, our mission is to make clean, affordable energy accessible for businesses across East Africa. This partnership with ElectriFI enables us to scale our impact, helping more companies reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and improve productivity. We believe in building a sustainable model that benefits our clients, our team, our investors, and the entrepreneurs we serve.”
Sawa Energy’s services help businesses reduce CO₂ emissions by shifting to renewable energy sources, lower energy costs through discounted solar tariffs, decrease reliance on unstable grid infrastructure, minimize production losses caused by power outages, thus improving productivity, and support business growth and profitability by providing reliable power supply.
ElectriFI’s commitment underscores the EU’s dedication to propelling clean energy access and championing private sector-driven climate action in Africa. This effort aligns seamlessly with the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative, a cornerstone of the EU’s Global Gateway Africa-EU Investment Package.
About Sawa Energy
Sawa Energy is a renewable energy group operating in East Africa, focused on providing fully financed, tailored solar PV and energy storage solutions to commercial and industrial clients, with a mission to drive the transition to clean energy.
About EDFI Management Company
EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) is a multilaterally owned impact asset manager which delivers innovative development finance solutions that enable European DFIs, development banks and private sector investors to increase the scale and impact of their work. The company focuses on business models, technologies and geographies where other investors have not been able to operate at the desired scale given their resources and investment criteria. For more information, visit www.edfimc.eu.
About ElectriFI
The Electrification Financing Initiative – ElectriFI, managed by EDFI Management Company, is an impact-first investment facility, funded by the European Union. ElectriFI is investing in early-stage private companies and projects that increase or improve access to and supply of sustainable energy in developing countries. For more information, visit www.electrifi.eu.
The ElectriFI Uganda Country Window is a dedicated EUR 5 million initiative funded by the European Union to invest in early-stage renewable energy companies in Uganda, aiming to bridge the financing gap for private sector players and expand access to clean, reliable electricity-especially in rural areas where electrification rates remain below 20%-through close collaboration with the Ugandan government and the EU Delegation.
Media inquiries
For EDFI Management Company: Natasa Lakovic, n.lakovic@edfimc.eu
