Uganda: Government Subsidises Eco-Friendly Cooking Stoves By 50 Percent

What the report says

Uganda’s government is subsidising eco-friendly cooking stoves by 50 percent in an effort to make clean cooking more affordable and speed up the shift away from charcoal and firewood, according to a Nile Post report distributed by AllAfrica. The policy is aimed at lowering household exposure to smoke, easing pressure on forests and reducing environmental damage linked to biomass use.

The article says officials see cost as a major barrier to wider adoption of cleaner cooking technologies. Roy Baguma of the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company said only a small share of households currently use clean cooking, while most still depend on unsustainable biomass. He said Eco Group Ltd is manufacturing locally made stoves that use reusable, smoke-free rocks instead of charcoal or firewood.

Maureen Katushabe, marketing manager at Eco Group Ltd, said the stoves are designed to last for more than two years, which could make them cheaper over time. The government has partnered with the company to reduce prices, and the subsidy is reported to apply only to Ugandan nationals and local households with National IDs.

During a visit to the factory in Bujjuko, Mityana, Mawokota North MP Amelia Kyambadde praised government support for local manufacturers producing environmentally friendly products. The broader significance is Uganda’s attempt to combine energy access, public health and environmental protection by encouraging households and small businesses to switch to cleaner cooking options.