The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has urged Ugandans to shift kitchens away from firewood and charcoal, saying clean cooking solutions are no longer an environmental luxury but a public health and education priority.
Speaking during the Clean cooking Capacity building workshop for schools & 2nd edition of the clean cooking cook-off held at St Kizito High school Namugongo which brought together 10 schools , Mr Muliisa Emmanuel , the Capacity Building and Awareness Officer at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) said cooking using firewood and charcoal has direct effects on health, safety and the environment.
The participating schools included; St Kizito High school Namugongo, Kireka High, Kira SS, Kyambogo College ,St Peter’s SS Naalya ,Bweyogerere SS, St Henry’s Kampala, St Kizito Junior School , Naalya SS Bweyogerere and Queen of Martyrs.
The event was organized by St Kizito high school Namugongo as a host school, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Clean cooking capacity Building project (CCCP), Clean Cooking Unit among other partners.
Adressing particpants virtually , Gauri Singh, the Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) commended St. Kizito High School Namugongo prioritizing education for a sustainable future.
It should be noted that St Kizito is the first school in Uganda to integrate green skills into their curriculum and theyrecognize the importance of inclusive training in the green sector.
St Kizito has always focused on sustainability and believes environmental responsibility has created promising opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in the green sector.
Uganda has an estimated 76,000 education institutions, however, over 95% of these schools still depend on firewood or charcoal for daily cooking, while only a handful use improved stoves or clean energy alternatives. Similar conditions prevail in hospitals, prisons, and police barracks, where bulk food preparation for large populations results in high fuel demand and unsustainable deforestation rates.
The Ministry’s surveys reveal that 49% of institutions use charcoal as their main fuel, 21% rely on firewood, and only 22.7% have adopted improved cook stoves. Meanwhile, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) use stands at 11.9%, and electricity at 2.5%. This imbalance has serious implications for the environment, national budgets, and the health of cooks exposed daily to heavy smoke and heat.
The ministry envisions a future where public institutions, especially schools and hospitals, use modern energy sources such as electricity, LPG, biogas, briquettes, and pellets.
Uganda’s institutional clean cooking challenge reflects a wider regional trend, though neighboring countries have made varying progress.
Comparatively, Uganda’s clean cooking penetration remains among the lowest in East Africa, with only 3.8% of households using clean fuels or technologies, and less than a quarter of institutions adopting improved stoves.
