energy 31 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ugandan Institutions Embrace Clean Energy, Shifting from Firewood
Schools and prisons in Uganda are increasingly adopting clean energy solutions for cooking, moving away from costly and environmentally damaging firewood to realize long-term savings and operational efficiencies. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/education/cutting-smoke-how-ugandan-schools-prisons-are-ditching-firewood-for-clean-energy-5578012
Many educational institutions and correctional facilities in Uganda are making a significant shift from traditional firewood to cleaner energy sources for their cooking needs. This transition, driven by the desire for cost savings and environmental responsibility, is gradually gaining momentum across the country.
Kyambogo College School, for instance, continues to face substantial expenses, spending between Shs10 million and Shs16 million per term on firewood. In contrast, Buwambo Seed Secondary School in Wakiso District has successfully transitioned to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Headteacher William Kiwanuka Kasule reported that the school now spends approximately Shs10 million on LPG for an entire term, a move that has also streamlined kitchen operations and reduced cooking times.
The Uganda Prisons Service, responsible for feeding over 82,000 inmates daily, is also actively moving away from firewood. Spokesperson Frank Baine noted that while initial investments in energy-saving stoves, solar cookers, and electric boilers may seem high, they prove cheaper over time. Facilities are adopting technologies like biomass briquettes, electricity, and solar cooking.
Private companies are playing a crucial role in facilitating this shift. Vivo Energy has installed LPG systems in numerous schools, subsidizing initial costs to demonstrate the affordability of clean energy for public institutions. Similarly, Eco-Stove has deployed improved cooking systems in hundreds of schools and other facilities, utilizing technologies such as solar power and electric pressure cookers, often with support from government subsidies and international relief agencies.
Despite these advancements, the widespread adoption of clean energy for cooking faces challenges, with a significant portion of households and institutions still relying on inefficient biomass fuels. The government’s Sustainable Energy Development Programme aims to reduce biomass energy use from 75 percent in 2024 to 50 percent by 2030, requiring a mix of technologies suited to different contexts, including electric stoves, LPG, biogas, and solar cookers. Financial institutions are stepping in with tailored credit facilities to overcome the initial cost barrier for institutions and households.