By James Alomu
In a drive to promote clean and affordable cooking solutions, the National Renewable Energy Platform has equipped households in Soroti City with knowledge and skills on using electric pressure cookers (EPCs).
The initiative aims to encourage behavior change among residents by integrating clean cooking technologies into their daily routines, significantly reducing reliance on traditional biomass fuels such as charcoal and firewood.
Speaking during the workshop, Mariah Kizza, Head of Finance and Corporate Affairs at the platform, emphasized the importance of adopting modern cooking technologies that are both energy-saving and environmentally friendly. “We promote the use of electricity with gadgets that consume very little power. Most families prepare more than three meals a day, which leads to high energy consumption. This technology helps address that challenge,” Kizza explained.
She highlighted the economic benefits of electric pressure cookers, noting that they can cook an entire meal with an average electricity cost of only 1,000 Ugandan shillings. Kizza also pointed out that using charcoal is not only more expensive but also contributes significantly to indoor air pollution and environmental degradation.
Francis Ediau, the environment officer for Soroti city ,stressed the environmental impact of traditional cooking methods. “This modern technology will help mitigate the cutting and burning of trees for charcoal. The government is taking steps to address environmental degradation, and this initiative is part of that effort,” he said. Ediau called on the community to embrace the use of electric pressure cookers, adding that the devices consume less than one unit of electricity per meal.
Samuel Eliabu, Chairperson of Soroti Main Market, along with other participants, welcomed the initiative. They expressed optimism about the potential of the technology to improve livelihoods and reduce household expenses. However, they also appealed to the government to find ways of extending support to low-income earners to ensure broader access to the technology.
The workshops form part of a broader national campaign to promote clean energy usage and reduce the country’s dependence on unsustainable cooking fuels, ultimately contributing to better health, lower energy costs, and environmental conservation.
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