GIZ Provides Improved Institutional Cookstoves in Commemoration of World Environment Day in Uganda

On 5th June, the German Development Cooperation, as implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) donated three portable rocket design institutional improved cookstoves to Kawempe Muslim Primary School, in Kawempe Division, Kampala. This was in commemoration of the 2024 World Environment Day. The stoves were handed over by a delegation from GIZ Uganda led by Dr Michael Klingler, Portfolio Manager - GIZ Uganda.

The cookstoves, supplied by Simoshi Ltd and manufactured by Uganda Stove Manufacturers Ltd (UGASTOVE) were funded by the Global Carbon Market project (GCM) Uganda and the Promotion for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (PREEEP), on behalf of the German Government, and as part of GIZ’s initiatives on sustainability and environment protection.

Kawempe Muslim Primary School is a government-aided school established in 1938. The school currently has over 650 students and 38 staff. The school spends about USD 530 per term on firewood for cooking. Cooking is done in an open space using traditional three stone fire cookstoves that use plenty of firewood. School children have also been prone to burns and smoke inhalation.

This intervention will facilitate the school’s shift to energy efficient cooking, enabling savings of USD 265 per term. The monetary savings can be used on other needs such as buying more food to increase portion sizes for students.

"These stoves will help us go a long way in saving fuel and protecting trees. They will also improve the health of the children and the cooks."

Speaking at the cookstove handover ceremony, Mr Zaid Kulumba, the school Headmaster appreciated GIZ for the effort, saying, ‘these new stoves will help us go a long way in saving fuel and protecting trees. They will also improve the health of the children and the cooks. ”His remarks were reinforced by Dr. Klingler who further expressed the hope that the shift was just a step in a future move towards even more environmentally friendly cooking.

Ms. Virginia Echavarria, Managing Director - Simoshi Ltd, the social enterprise that supplied the stoves said that through Simoshi’s carbon financing certification programme, the school would benefit from free annual maintenance for the institutional cookstoves.

Ritah Rukundo David Kisakye Baleese Andrew Hollander David Otieno Merab Birungi Lisa Eva Lotta Maria Hofheinz Racheal Nalule Denis Rukundo N

Author: Salome Alweny