Clean Cooking: A Path to a Healthier and Sustainable Uganda
In Uganda, cooking practices have long been shaped by tradition, with biomass fuels, such as firewood and charcoal, serving as the primary energy sources for cooking. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), approximately 94% of Ugandan households rely on biomass fuels for cooking, with firewood accounting for 73% and charcoal for 21%.
Despite the widespread use of biomass fuels, their impact on health and the environment is undeniable. Traditional cooking methods, often involving open fires or inefficient stoves, release harmful pollutants that contribute to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and other health problems. Additionally, these practices exacerbate deforestation, jeopardizing Uganda's precious ecosystems and contributing to climate change.


WHAT IS CLEAN COOKING?
Clean cooking refers to the use of cooking technologies and fuels that minimize harmful emissions and improve efficiency.
This includes stoves that burn cleaner fuels, such as LPG or biogas, as well as improved biomass cookstoves that reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
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The benefits of clean cooking extend far beyond environmental protection. Adopting clean cooking practices has a positive impact on individuals, communities, and the environment
“Clean cooking is more than just about changing stoves; it’s about changing lives.” - Sylvia Banda, co-founder of the Clean Cooking Alliance
Benefits of Clean Cookstoves
Quick facts about
Clean Cooking
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Clean cooking saves lives. Every year, 4 million people die prematurely from indoor air pollution caused by traditional cooking methods. Clean cooking technologies, such as improved cookstoves and cleaner fuels, can reduce these deaths by up to 90%.
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Clean cooking is affordable. There are a variety of clean cooking technologies available at different price points, making them accessible to households of all income levels.
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Clean cooking is a smart investment. The benefits of clean cooking far outweigh the costs. For every dollar invested in clean cooking, there is a return of $14 in health, environmental, and economic benefits.
