Energy-saving stoves remedy environment in Karamoja

KARAMOJA - Uganda’s forests are important and treasured national assets that contribute 8.7% to the national economy. 

Forests play a significant role in the water cycle that sustains lives, are an indispensable enabler for agriculture which is a backbone of Uganda’s economy and about 80% of the people in Uganda depend on biomass energy for their daily cooking needs.

However, this dependence on biomass energy has often curtailed efforts to save Uganda’s forest cover despite community tree initiatives, gazetting tree planting days and licensing private tree growers in government forest reserves. 

Now, efforts like that of the government of Iceland, which has reportedly injected shillings 2.7 billion ($750,000) to support clean energy in schools as part of broader conservation efforts in Karamoja region, are key.

It is partly because of this that Uganda’s forest cover has increased from 9% in 2015 to 13% in 2021 and is expected to increase to 15% by 2025.

This investment in one of Uganda’s most climate-vulnerable regions is quietly transforming the kitchens of schools like Looro Primary School in Amudat district.

Cook Jennifer Namataka, 56, ladles steaming hot porridge into bowls of the eager pupils, whose school is embracing change brought by the installation of energy-saving stoves, thanks to a project spearheaded by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the International Lifeline Fund with generous support from Iceland.

Energy-efficient stoves minimise heat dissipation, which makes cooking more efficient and result in a reduction of firewood usage of 50% – 60% compared to traditional three-stone stoves. Less firewood usage means less trees cut down and lower greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn helps mitigate climate change.

"We used to cook on open fires made of three stones and use a lot of firewood. It would take me five hours to prepare meals, and the smoke was unbearable,” Namataka says.

The 12-month project targets 67,000 learners, 30 entrepreneurs, and 3,000 households with each household receiving an energy-smart charcoal or wood stove in the districts of Kaabong, Amudat and Moroto.

Today, Namataka spends just three hours cooking nutritious meals for the pupils.
“It is not just about cooking it is about the future of these children and the environment they will grow up in,” Namataka says.

Moses Oryema, the WFP focal point for the energising and decarbonising school meals project, says: “The energy-efficient stoves have reduced firewood consumption by over a half, cutting down on cooking time, and significantly reducing smoke emissions, making Namataka’s daily tasks much more manageable".

Karamoja’s semi-arid landscape is heavily affected by climate change, with recurring droughts and environmental degradation further exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition.

Cook Jennifer Namataka, 56, ladles steaming hot porridge into bowls of the eager pupils, whose school is embracing change brought by the installation of energy-saving stoves, thanks to a project spearheaded by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the International Lifeline Fund with generous support from Iceland. (Credit: Nelson Kiva)

“Clean cooking technologies like energy-saving stoves are pivotal in reducing deforestation, curbing emissions and fostering land restoration. Between 2023 and 2024, WFP equipped 67 schools in Karamoja with energy-saving stoves, a step that has reduced annual firewood usage from 11,755 metric tonnes to 4,702 metric tonnes,” Oryema says.

The project has among others donated an estimated 35,000 trees annually in an effort to preserve Karamoja’s fragile ecosystem by addressing the pressing issue of unsustainable firewood demand in school kitchens.

“The energy-saving stoves intervention is part of WFP’s larger mission to provide daily hot meals to 220,000 students across 320 schools in Karamoja. The Home-Grown School Feeding model ensures these meals are not only nutritious but sourced locally, creating a win-win for students and smallholder farmers. This initiative dubbed Karamoja Feeds Karamoja, has bolstered food security, promoted education, and offered markets to farmers in the region,” he adds.

According to Oryema, beyond environmental benefits, the new stoves are transforming lives, particularly for women and children: "By reducing the time spent on cooking and firewood collection, women like Jennifer can focus on other income-generating activities or spend more time with their families. For students, the timely preparation of meals means they can concentrate better in class, fuelled by warm, nutritious food".

He said that Iceland’s support has been instrumental in this transformation, highlighting the power of international collaboration in addressing pressing global challenges.

“In Karamoja, the shift to energy-saving stoves is a beacon of hope for sustainable development and a healthier future for the region’s children,” Oryema said.

“The project will reduce firewood use by 60%. In addition to training cooks, 80% of local households will benefit from promotion of clean cooking solutions. It is expected to also support the cultivation of biofortified crops like orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and iron-rich beans to diversify school meals, enhance nutrition, and facilitate knowledge transfer to communities,” Oryema added.

Efforts to ensure environmental restoration efforts include planting 1,500 acres of woodlots, while youth and women empowerment programmes will establish 30 micro-enterprises for clean energy.

According to Oryema, the WFP’s initiative aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing climate action, education quality, gender equality, and sustainable consumption.