By Ahereza Stephen,
LETTER
On 5th February 2026, Equity bank Uganda in partnership with UKAID and the ministry of Energy launched affordable financing for e-cooking products and technologies in Uganda aiming at accelerating the adoption of electric cooking solutions across the country.
In the 2023 Energy Transition Plan, Uganda has an ambition to achieve universal access to electricity and cleaner cooking by 2030 aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 7(DG7) which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Electricity demand has been steadily growing due to increasing population putting a strong focus on ramping up the expansion of the country’s power sector though electricity and clean cooking access rates remain low, at around 45% and 15%, respectively, despite recent progress driven by strong government programmes.
Modern energy consumption per capita remains low around 30 times lower than the average in advanced economies. Nearly 90% of Uganda’s final energy consumption is still met by burning solid bioenergy largely wood and charcoal. This has greatly affected the environment leading to loss of diversity, increased deforestation cases that have led to greenhouse gas emissions.
Women are the major consumers of energy, making them the most vulnerable group. Women spend a lot of time gathering firewood and cooking which time should be used for other activities including being with family, community and in the commercial space. More so, there has been increased cases of indoor air pollution increasing cases of health risks, children are dropping out of school while spending much of their time collecting firewood.
Electricity access remains particularly limited in rural areas where nearly three quarters of Ugandans live. The biggest hindrance to electricity access are the highest electricity tarrifs.Uganda has high residential electricity prices compared to other countries in the region.
Extending electricity access to rural areas provides an essential lifeline to modernization, improving economic productivity, access to information, and allows for a more decentralized economy. It can power agricultural pumps and cold chain infrastructure, which would improve agricultural production and connect farming to commercial markets.
Universal access to clean cooking in Uganda can avoid around 50 000 premature deaths from indoor air pollution per year and save households two hours per day in collecting firewood with the greatest benefits accruing to women and children. It also reduces the countries net greenhouse gas emissions with potential to fund multiple projects via carbon credits.
Efforts to reach universal access will contribute to the creation of 170 000 clean energy jobs for Ugandans, an important stepping stone into greater formal employment and higher wages, in other words, electricity is the backbone of modern life. Clean cooking and electricity access are the major means to improve the situation of Ugandan women in the workforce.
For God and my Country.
Email: Steveahereza98@gmail.com
