Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, joined by Lisa Chesney, British High Commissioner to Uganda, attended the Mary Magdalene Festival at Luwero Diocese in Nakasongola, a region known for its high rates of charcoal burning.
Hosted by the Christian Women’s Fellowship to celebrate Mary Magdalene’s Day, the event, led by Rt. Rev. Wilson Kisekka, featured live demonstrations of electric pressure cookers (EPCs) preparing local dishes for the congregation, showcasing sustainable cooking alternatives.
During the festival, Minister Nankabirwa urged women leaders to unite. “Instead of fighting among ourselves, we must support each other to advance gender equity and sustainable development,” she said, addressing the congregation.
She also led a prayer session in a sermon, urging women to remain spiritual and deeply rooted in Christianity, emphasizing that, like Mary Magdalene, they should never give up in life.
Nakasongola’s reliance on charcoal, which contributes to deforestation and environmental degradation, has made it a priority for sustainable energy interventions.
Highlighting this, Nankabirwa noted, “The scarcity of cooking energy comes from cutting young trees for low-quality charcoal and the lack of free firewood.”
She advocated for alternatives like ethanol cookers, improved cookstoves, and EPCs, encouraging safe LPG use.
“You are resilient in childbirth; now learn to use clean cooking technologies for a healthier future,” she told the women in attendance.
To support this transition, Nankabirwa distributed 10 6kg LPG cylinders, 20 13kg LPG cylinders, 20 EPCs, and 10 solar lighting systems to the community.
She outlined plans to improve LPG accessibility through collaboration with estate planners, drawing inspiration from international models.
“We will work with estate planners to make LPG as accessible here as it is abroad,” she pledged, emphasizing Nakasongola as a key area for these efforts due to its environmental challenges.
The Minister praised Luwero Diocese for championing clean cooking and thanked the media for amplifying the cause.
“I will leverage the media’s reach to promote clean cooking across Uganda,” she said, officially launching the clean cooking program in Nakasongola to address the region’s charcoal-burning crisis.
Lisa Chesney commended the initiative, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to Uganda’s sustainable development goals.
“For very many years, we have invested in hydropower dams, helping Uganda become a clean energy leader. We are now working together with universities, innovators to try to keep including clean cooking technologies and help women get access to clean energy solutions” She added.
The event highlighted the power of collective action in advancing gender equity and sustainable energy solutions in high-impact areas like Nakasongola.