Vivo Energy rallies CoU school heads to embrace clean cooking solutions

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Delegates attending Church of Uganda’s Annual Heads of Education Institutions Retreat have been urged to embrace impactful cooking solutions for institutions to save money and protect the environment.

The call was made by Joanita Mukasa Menya, Managing Director at Vivo Energy Uganda, during the ongoing conference being held at Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

The education retreat has brought together education leaders from across the country, representing more than 2,000 pre-primary schools, 5,200 primary schools, 630 secondary schools, 50 Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) institutions and five universities.

This year’s discussions focused on the theme “Alternative Energy Cooking System Use in Schools”, reflecting the growing need for cleaner, safer and more sustainable cooking solutions within Uganda’s education sector.

Speaking at the retreat, Joanita Mukasa highlighted the broader purpose behind the company’s engagement in aligning with schools on adopting clean cooking solutions.

“Our participation reflects our sustainability framework at Vivo Energy, which is built on three pillars: People, Planet, Partnerships”, she said. By working closely with education institutions and partners, we are supporting schools to adopt cleaner cooking solutions that protect the health and safety of people, strengthen long-term partnerships and reduce environmental impact,” she noted.

The initiative aligns with Vivo Energy Uganda’s wider sustainability agenda, which focuses on lowering environmental impact, improving public health and supporting national efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

The company continues to work with schools, hospitals, hospitality businesses and community institutions to promote the safe and efficient use of LPG.

At the retreat, Vivo Energy Uganda demonstrated how institutional Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) provides a practical and scalable alternative to firewood and charcoal.

Vivo Energy Uganda showcased its market-leading institutional LPG solution, which is already making a tangible difference in school kitchens across the country.

A flagship example is King’s College Budo, where a modern LPG system has reduced reliance on firewood and charcoal. The transition has created cleaner and healthier working conditions for kitchen staff, improved operational efficiency and contributed to environmental protection by easing pressure on Uganda’s forests. 

“Our institutional LPG systems are designed specifically for the scale and demands of schools. We provide not just the equipment, but also the technical expertise and ongoing support needed to ensure safe and reliable use.”

Rt Rev. Nathan Ahimbisibwe, Bishop South Ankole Diocese and Chairperson Provincial Board of Education, encouraged head teachers to find ways and means of how to make their schools a safer place for the children.

As Uganda prepares for first oil in 2026, Vivo Energy Uganda is strengthening national capacity for LPG storage, handling and distribution. Through its joint venture with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the company will be supporting the safe delivery of increasing volumes of locally available LPG to institutions and households, enhancing energy security and accelerating the adoption of clean cooking solutions.