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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United Kingdom Government has unveiled a new multi-billion initiative to accelerate Uganda’s clean cooking agenda.
The initiative valued at 5 million euros (23.7 billion Ugandan Shillings) was launched at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Kampala, on Friday. It focuses on three key components designed to transform cooking practices across the country.
The first is to establish a high-impact Clean Cooking Unit within Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, which will spearhead the nation’s clean cooking ambitions, enhance coordination, and attract additional sector financing.
It is also expected to support urban authorities in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area to facilitate market-led clean cooking solutions for at least 6,000 households in informal settlements and aid in developing scalable business models to overcome barriers to clean cooking access, promoting the use of suitable clean cooking technologies in hard-to-reach markets.
Additionally, the program will expand a nationwide sustainable supply chain, distributing at least 10,000 high-quality electric cooking appliances. It aims to train 600 Ugandan technicians in the repair and maintenance of these appliances, develop a national standards and labelling program, and pilot electric cooking in 100 schools across the country.
“This cutting-edge technology is set to revolutionize cooking by combining convenience, efficiency, and versatility—enabling users at household, institutional, and business levels to prepare meals faster, safely, and in a cleaner environment,” British High Commissioner to Uganda Kate Airey said during the launch.
She emphasized the UK Government’s commitment to advancing the electric cooking sector, citing the proven effectiveness of technologies such as Electric Pressure Cookers.
The cookers, equipped with advanced technology and user-friendly features, promise fast and efficient cooking, enhanced safety, eco-friendliness, and significant energy and cost savings, delivering up to 50 per cent in savings.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa highlighted that this program builds on the UK Government’s previous support, which included developing Uganda’s National e-Cooking Strategy which aims to increase the adoption of electric cooking from the current 1 per cent to 18 per cent by 2030.
“The launch of this program marks a significant milestone in our journey to overcome barriers, generate evidence, and expand the e-cooking industry. Traditional cooking methods using firewood and charcoal are becoming increasingly scarce and unaffordable,” Nankabirwa said.
Victoria Kyomuhangi, a Kampala resident who uses an Electric Pressure Cooker, praised the technology for its cost-effectiveness, time-saving, and energy-efficiency benefits. She encouraged other women to adopt the appliances to improve their health and manage household tasks more efficiently.
The launch event also featured live cooking demonstrations, offering a hands-on culinary experience to the public. The National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) will roll out a behaviour change campaign to accelerate e-cooking adoption, including outreach in schools, cultural and religious institutions, and public spaces across Uganda.
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