As Uganda faces the rapid depletion of its forests, the need for clean cooking solutions has become increasingly urgent. Recognizing this, the Government of Uganda has taken proactive steps to address the issue through the Clean Cooking Programme, aimed at reducing dependence on firewood and charcoal in both rural and urban areas. The programme seeks to make electric pressure cookers an affordable and accessible alternative. While funding was previously a challenge, the initiative recently gained momentum with its official launch.

On August 9, 2024, the £5 million Clean Cooking Programme was inaugurated by Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, at the residence of The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Kate Aiery. This funding marks a pivotal moment in supporting Uganda’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable cooking solutions.

The two-year programme aims to establish a high-impact Clean Cooking Unit, support urban authorities in promoting market-led clean cooking solutions, and expand a nationwide sustainable supply chain of electric cooking appliances.

This programme will also promote the use of Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) and induction cookers, which offer fast, efficient, and safe cooking solutions. It’s a known  fact that EPCs reduce cooking time by up to 50%, are known to preserve nutrients and flavors, and are designed for household, institutional, and business use. These innovative electric cooking technologies have the potential to transform cooking in Uganda, improving health, and environmental conservation.

Through the Modern Energy Cooking Services Program (MECS), the joint partnership seeks to expand a nationwide sustainable supply chain of at least 10,000 high quality electric cooking appliances; train at least 600 Ugandan technicians in the repair and maintenance of efficient electric cooking appliances; develop a national standards and labeling programme, and pilot institutional electric cooking in 100 schools across the country.

In her speech Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa reiterated how crucial Clean Cooking is to Uganda’s plans and future. She further stated that over-reliance on biomass energy continues to drive deforestation and accelerate the impact of Climate Change on Uganda.

“Beyond human impact, over-reliance on biomass by Ugandans continues to drive deforestation rates high (about 120,000Ha is lost annually). Because of this unsustainable use, firewood and charcoal have even become more scarce and increasingly unaffordable,” Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa stated.

It should be noted that Uganda recently updated the National Energy Policy (2023), which now places a strong focus on promoting energy access and fostering an environment that enables clean cooking. The Policy targets aim to:

• Increase our generation capacity from 2,000MW (end of 2023), to 52,000MW in 2040.
• Progressively improve Uganda’s per-capita electricity consumption from 215kWh (2022) to 3,600kWh in 2040, driven in part by a strong strategy on promotion of cooking with renewable electricity (as per a speech by Minister Ruth Nankabirwa).
• Accelerate the adoption of e-cooking solutions from the current 1% to 18% within the next decade. This will include all grid and off-grid (solar) connected households, institutions, enterprises, and within displacement settings.  
• Uganda has also targeted to deliver universal improved and clean cooking access for all Ugandans, in line with the Energy Transition Plan, through an Integrated Clean Cooking Approach and Strategy – so all solutions: electric cooking, LPG, ethanol, biogas, briquettes and pellets are to be put in place.

As the Government of Uganda is working tirelessly to increase electricity access, increase energy availability and reliability, as well as consumption. These elements of the National Electrification Strategy are mutually reinforcing the National Strategy on electric cooking. 

According to Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an implementing partner, 7 in every 10 households in Uganda (73%) use firewood for cooking while 2 in every 10 households (21%) use charcoal  which contributes to air pollution and is harmful to the people.

According to the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, just 1% of the population uses a clean cooking option as their primary source of cooking energy (2.7% urban, 0.6% rural). 

Uganda’s third National Development Plan (NDPIII) defines the core objectives of the national clean cooking strategy: 1) increase the share of clean energy used for cooking from 15% to 50%; 2) reduce the share of biomass for cooking from 88% to 50%; and 3) increase LPG from 1% to 8% of energy use (all by 2025). 

This initiative by MEMD comes at a crucial time when the whole world is talking about environmental conservation which is fueled by rudimentary cooking solutions, and the need for Uganda to utilize her electricity resources. The interventions being set in place are in the right direction although it’s safe to say that a two year programme will not eradicate the use of biomass completely – it’s a great stride in the right direction though.

The launched programme will in part support the Government of Uganda agenda through a number of interventions: 

• The establishment of a Clean Cooking Unit at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
• Strengthening of supply chain systems to address availability and affordability challenges.
• Awareness and behavior change campaign to promote adoption.
• Transitioning at least 6,000 households in informal settlements around Kampala.
• Ensuring strong local private sector involvement. 

The £5 million investment will significantly enhance MEMD’s efforts to raise awareness. However, making these appliances affordable will require active collaboration from key stakeholders, including financial institutions, savings groups, and companies. By purchasing these items at scale and advocating for the removal of taxes on such products, stakeholders can play a critical role in ensuring broader access and affordability. 

It should be noted that the Ugandan government’s National Energy Policy 2023 targets universal electricity access and 50% clean cooking by 2040.