Day Light Solar Energies, a fast-rising Ugandan social enterprise, has been selected for the Safe Water Accelerator Uganda 2025, joining a select group of high-potential companies working to transform access to clean water through innovative solutions.
The company, founded by entrepreneur Sandra Nabakka, was chosen for its pioneering use of artificial intelligence to simplify financing for water infrastructure in underserved communities.
Its flagship innovation, Sandi AI, is a chatbot that connects rural groups such as farmer cooperatives, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and women-led collectives to financing opportunities for essential water systems.
Through this technology, Day Light Solar Energies is helping communities overcome the financing barriers that have long limited access to clean water and sanitation services, while also delivering and installing vital systems such as solar-powered water pumps, rainwater harvesting tanks, filtration units, and irrigation kits.
The Safe Water Accelerator, which runs through August 2025, is a highly competitive program designed to help innovative startups scale their solutions and attract investment.
Day Light Solar Energies is one of only 10 companies selected from across Uganda, alongside firms specializing in water drilling, purification, and engineering.
The program provides participants with intensive business coaching, technical assistance, mentorship, and networking opportunities, along with a €10,000 catalytic grant to boost growth and deepen their impact.
Participation in the accelerator is expected to fuel Day Light Solar Energies’ plans for expansion, as it continues to bridge the gap between community water needs and accessible financing.
Sandra Nabakka, founder of Day Light Solar Energies, described the selection as a significant milestone for the company and a validation of its mission-driven approach.
“Our goal has always been to make clean water and sanitation accessible to communities often left behind by traditional financing models,” she said. “This accelerator will help us scale faster, refine our model, and extend our impact beyond Uganda.”
At the core of the company’s model is Sandi AI, an intelligent chatbot that streamlines the process of accessing financing for water projects.
Accessible via web and mobile platforms, the chatbot guides community groups—including farmer cooperatives, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and women-led collectives—through every step of securing funding.
Users begin by registering through the chatbot, after which Day Light Solar Energies verifies their legitimacy in partnership with local leaders to ensure that support is directed to the most underserved areas. Sandi AI then evaluates the group’s creditworthiness by analyzing mobile money transactions, savings behavior, and repayment histories.
In real time, the chatbot matches groups with partner financial institutions and presents loan offers tailored to their needs and capacity.
Once approved, Day Light Solar Energies delivers and installs the required water systems, including solar-powered water pumps, drip irrigation kits, rainwater harvesting tanks, school filtration units, or handwashing stations. Flexible repayment plans and grace periods make these solutions more affordable for communities.
This model marks a major shift from traditional financing methods, which often exclude rural populations due to limited access to formal banking services. “WaterCredit eliminates the hurdles of traditional financing,” says Sandra Nabakka. “It guides groups through every step—resulting in quicker approvals, improved loan terms, and broader access to essential water and sanitation services.”
