Vivo Energy Uganda has urged education leaders to shift school kitchens away from firewood and charcoal, saying clean cooking solutions are no longer an environmental luxury but a public health and education priority.
The call was made during the Church of Uganda Annual Heads of Education Institutions Retreat, held on Wednesday at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono, which brought together leaders from more than 2,000 pre-primary schools, 5,200 primary schools, 630 secondary schools, 50 BTVET institutions and five universities.
The retreat was attended by, among others, the Bishop of South Ankole Diocese, Rt Rev Nathan Ahimbisibwe.
Addressing the gathering, Vivo Energy Uganda Managing Director, Joanita Mukasa Menya, said decisions taken by school leaders extend far beyond classrooms and directly affect health, safety and the environment.
“The way we cook in our schools should not undermine the very future we are educating our children to lead,” Mukasa Menya told participants.
She noted that while firewood and charcoal remain widely used, they come with hidden costs.
“The smoke from traditional biomass fuels exposes cooks and learners to harmful pollutants, increases respiratory illness, consumes enormous labour and accelerates deforestation,” she said.
Menya presented Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a practical and scalable alternative already delivering results in institutional kitchens.
“When schools install LPG systems, they immediately experience cleaner kitchens, safer working conditions, faster cooking and better control over energy costs,” she said, adding that savings can be redirected to learning materials, infrastructure and staff development.
Vivo Energy anchored its pitch on health, efficiency and environmental protection, arguing that cleaner kitchens are a core part of safe and effective learning environments.
“Clean kitchens are part of safe schools. Safe schools are part of quality education. And quality education is the foundation of sustainable development,” Mukasa Menya said.
She pointed to King’s College Budo as a working example of successful transition to LPG.
“Their experience shows what is possible when leadership, responsibility and innovation come together,” she noted.
A senior kitchen staff member at the school echoed the impact.
“Switching to LPG has been a game-changer for us. It’s safer, faster, and our kitchens are much cleaner. I can’t imagine going back to the old ways,” the cook said.
Vivo Energy Uganda’s LPG Manager, Alvin Bamutire, said schools across the country are increasingly seeking alternatives to biomass fuels due to cost pressures and safety concerns.
“Many institutions are actively looking for cleaner options because firewood and charcoal are becoming more expensive and risky,” Bamutire said.
He explained that Vivo Energy’s institutional LPG systems are designed to meet the scale and daily demands of large schools.
“We don’t just supply equipment. We provide technical expertise, safety training and ongoing support to ensure reliable and secure use,” he added.
Mukasa Menya said Vivo Energy’s clean cooking drive is supported by partnerships aimed at improving affordability and national energy security.
Through a joint venture with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), the company is strengthening LPG storage, handling and distribution capacity, while the Eno Deal Super partnership with the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC) is enabling schools to access LPG equipment through affordable financing.
“The future we teach in our classrooms must be reflected in the choices we make outside them,” Mukasa Menya said. “By adopting LPG, schools demonstrate that progress, responsibility and care for the planet are lived values.”
She challenged education leaders to take immediate action.
“I encourage each of you to ask: what is one step you can take this month toward adopting LPG in your school?” she sai
