Eco-friendly stoves promise relief Uganda’s forests crave

For years, Jian Namuhenge spent nearly Shs 80,000 every month on charcoal. Like millions of Ugandans, she relied on a traditional charcoal stove for daily cooking, unaware that a more efficient and affordable alternative existed.

Today, that same sack of charcoal lasts her almost three months, due to a technology change. 

“I am now able to save money and use it for other family needs. The stove is easy to light and has a fan that keeps the fire burning. It feels almost like cooking on gas, because I can control the heat,” Namuhenge said.

Namuhenge is among thousands of Ugandans benefiting from a growing clean cooking movement driven by Detra Energy and Environmental Contractors Limited, a young company using innovation and strategic partnerships to tackle one of Uganda’s most pressing energy challenges.

Detra operates across renewable energy, waste management, water and sanitation, environmental compliance, eco-friendly construction, and capacity building.

However, clean cooking has emerged as one of its most impactful interventions. Uganda remains heavily dependent on charcoal and firewood for cooking, a situation that contributes to deforestation and household air pollution.

Recognizing this challenge, Detra introduced a range of modern clean cooking technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption while improving convenience and safety.

Its product portfolio includes electric pressure cookers and advanced charcoal-saving cookstoves such as the Digiwave Electric Pressure Cooker series, Biolite Jiko Safi, Biolite Jiko Malkia, Ecoa Char Grill, Ecoa Char Plus, Ecoa Char Pro and Ecoa Char Classic.

These technologies are designed to help households spend less on fuel while reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional cooking methods.

While demand for cleaner cooking solutions was evident, affordability remained a major barrier for many households. That changed in 2024 when Detra partnered with Equity Bank Uganda and EnDev GIZ under a Results-Based Financing (RBF) programme aimed at expanding access to clean cooking technologies.

The programme provided incentives that significantly reduced the cost of acquiring energy-efficient stoves. As a result, products that previously sold for approximately Shs 140,000 became available at Shs 70,000, and for as low as Shs 60,000.

“Many Ugandans want solar systems, clean cook stoves, and renewable energy solutions, but the initial costs remain too high for households and small businesses. As Equity Bank, we are enabling communities to access these technologies through results-based financing,” says Virginia Semakula, Equity Bank Energy, Environment and Climate Change Pillar Head. 

According to David Ucha, Director of Detra Energy and Environmental Contractors Limited: “Even though we had only been operating in the clean cooking sector for a few years, Equity Bank Uganda and GIZ trusted us as a partner,” Ucha said. “The partnership has helped us penetrate the market, build credibility, and position ourselves for future growth.”

According to Ucha, the stoves consume significantly less charcoal than traditional alternatives, while producing less smoke and containing ash more effectively. The result is cleaner kitchens, healthier households and lower fuel expenditure. 

Reducing charcoal consumption by nearly two-thirds means families can redirect money previously spent on fuel toward education, healthcare, business investments, and other priorities.

At a national level, wider adoption of such technologies can help reduce pressure on Uganda’s forests, which continue to face significant threats from charcoal production and firewood harvesting.

Detra Energy is now expanding into institutional cooking solutions. One of the company’s latest innovations is the Jiko-Kul, a high-capacity pressure cooker designed for schools, hospitals and other large institutions.

Unlike conventional electric cooking appliances, the system combines oil-based heat retention technology with electric coils, allowing food to continue cooking even after power is switched off.

The innovation addresses one of Uganda’s persistent challenges, unreliable electricity supply, while significantly reducing cooking times and energy costs for institutions.

For businesses like Detra, Results-Based Financing provides the confidence and resources needed to scale operations and reach underserved communities. As demand for cleaner and more efficient energy solutions continues to grow, Detra Energy is guiding the transition, one stove at a time.

The post Eco-friendly stoves promise relief Uganda’s forests crave appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.