Teso's Demand for Clean Cooking Skills Surpasses Mubs Capacity

The enthusiasm for acquiring skills in renewable energy and clean cooking technologies in Uganda’s Teso sub-region has significantly outstripped the available training opportunities offered by Makerere University Business School (Mubs).

Over 500 individuals, predominantly women and youth, applied for a program that could only accommodate 100 participants. The training focused on vital areas such as solar installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, briquette production, and the fabrication of improved cookstoves.

Dr. Sylvia Aarakit, a senior lecturer at Mubs and lead investigator for the Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, highlighted the immense interest in green energy skills. “Due to financial constraints, we were only able to select 100 participants from the Teso sub-region,” she explained during the graduation ceremony for the recent cohort.

The initiative, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, aims to equip participants with practical skills for Uganda’s burgeoning renewable energy sector. While a similar training in Kampala saw good uptake, the response from Teso was notably more robust, indicating a strong regional desire for such expertise.

This project is also piloting a new green energy curriculum designed for vocational institutions. The curriculum emphasizes the use of locally sourced materials for producing green technologies, fostering both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity.

Local leaders, like Father Robert Ecogu of the Soroti Catholic Diocese, underscored the training’s timeliness. He pointed out the negative impacts of traditional cooking methods and charcoal use, including environmental degradation and health issues, making the transition to clean energy solutions critical for the region’s development.

Eng. Jorem Adutu, Principal of Uganda Martyrs Polytechnic College, noted that the training provided both technical and entrepreneurial skills, enabling graduates to establish businesses and create employment. He observed that a significant portion of the trainees were women, many of whom are mothers, underscoring the program’s potential to improve household incomes and promote cleaner cooking practices.

Project organizers expressed optimism about expanding the program if further funding and partnerships can be secured, given the strong demand demonstrated in Teso. The initiative aims to train 300 women and youth across Uganda.

This training was made possible through the Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, funded by IDRC Canada, and implemented in partnership with institutions including Makerere University Business School and Uganda Martyrs Polytechnic College in Soroti.