When a repair means much more

_____________

OPINION

By Peter M. Mwesiga

When Jim Roger Ssenoga, 35, first encountered electric pressure cookers (EPCs), he kept his distance. An electronics engineer in Wandegeya, he was comfortable repairing music systems and other appliances — but EPCs, especially digital models, were new territory. “I did not want to work on what I did not understand,” he recalls and wouldn’t even use one at home.

That has since changed. After repair and maintenance (R&M) training by CREEC under Uganda’s Clean Cooking Scale and Support Programme, Ssenoga now repairs EPCs, trains other technicians and uses one at home. Uganda is implementing the eCooking Scale and Support Programme, led by the energy ministry with funding from UK Aid, to accelerate the transition to electric cooking (eCooking).

Driven by the need to reduce dependence on charcoal and firewood, the programme also aims to improve public health, protect the environment and meet climate goals. Implementation is supported by partners including Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), the Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and ICLEI Africa. The programme focuses on five areas: Appliance adoption, institutional cooking, awareness creation, appliance quality standardisation, and technician training.

Over time, electric cooking appliances have become increasingly mainstream, even appearing on wedding and corporate gift lists. Yet a question remains: Given the upfront investment, what happens when they break down — and how do consumers identify quality appliances?

In response, over 600 repair technicians have been trained across Uganda since 2024 by CREEC, on behalf of the energy ministry. Delivered through regional vocational institutions and community centres, the training equips technicians to diagnose and repair electric cooking appliances, strengthening local capacity and ownership. In parallel, clean cooking quality labels and standards are being developed under the wider programme.

Repair services extend appliance lifespans, reduce costs and most importantly, build trust. As Will Clements, a researcher with MECS, notes: “Repair and maintenance are not a downstream issue — they are a foundational part of the eCooking transition. If people don’t trust that an appliance can be fixed when it breaks, they simply won’t adopt it.”

The impact of this intervention is evident on the ground.

In Lira city, 39-year-old Wedunga Felix had been using an EPC, until it broke down. With no local repair options, he turned to YouTube, but failed and stored it away. During the training, he brought the appliance, which was repaired in practical sessions. He now repairs air fryers and EPCs in his community, noting that without repair support, such appliances risk failure and disposal.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Michelle Nkuzi from Wampewo now undertakes repairs as a second income source, advising clients on quality, while 45-year-old Njoroge from Fort Portal integrates eCooking needs into his wiring installations. The training has also attracted elderly participants and persons with disabilities, pointing to growing local service ecosystems, new employment opportunities and broader inclusion.

Still, further efforts are needed to standardise training, establish competence assessments, expand delivery and embed programmes in vocational and university systems.

Ssenoga’s story and many others show that building local repair and maintenance capacity is central to making eCooking work. When people understand the technology, see its benefits and trust it can be maintained, adoption shifts from a policy goal to an everyday, practical choice.

The writer is the managing partner of Xantum Consulting