The National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP), with support from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the UK Government, and in partnership with Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), conducted an awareness campaign in Mbale City from February 10th to 14th, 2025 under the Behavioral Change Communication for Clean Cooking (BCCeC) project.
This campaign followed a baseline survey conducted in October 2024, which revealed that charcoal and firewood remain the dominant cooking fuels in Mbale City. The outreach aimed to recruit leaders as clean cooking champions while also giving the general public an opportunity to interact firsthand with electric cooking technologies.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The campaign employed multiple engagement strategies, including radio talk shows, workshops, printed fliers, and exhibitions, with a strong focus on live demonstrations.
Radio Talkshows
The team held talk shows on Elgon FM (101.2) and Open Gate FM (103.2), educating listeners on the health and environmental risks of traditional biomass cooking, including its link to climate change and respiratory illnesses. Listeners were also informed about the time and cost savings associated with Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs), highlighting their efficiency in reducing cooking time and lowering household energy costs.
During the Q&A segment, most callers turned out to be men, an encouraging sign that they were concerned not only about the environment but also about the health of their wives and children who do most of the cooking. Common inquiries included:
- Whether the campaign could be extended to neighboring cities.
- Where electric cooking appliances could be purchased in Mbale.
- The cost, warranty, and repair options of the appliances.
Workshops
Two workshops were held at the Mbale Cricket Grounds:
- February 11th: Leaders’ Workshop
- February 12th: General Public Workshop
At these sessions, the NREP team shared the baseline survey findings, and participants gave feedback on their knowledge of electric cooking while proposing strategies to promote clean cooking in Mbale City.
The biggest barriers identified were:
- Ignorance and poor sensitization
- Unreliable electricity supply
- Limited access to electricity
- High electricity costs
- Counterfeit appliances
- Cultural perceptions (e.g., the belief that food cooked over charcoal and firewood tastes better)
Live Demonstrations
Live cooking demonstrations were held at both the workshop venue and the central market, where volunteer participants prepared local meals such as beans, beef, posho, and rice using Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs).
Participants observed the speed and ease of cooking and later tasted the food, noting that:
- “The aroma is so inviting.”
- “It tastes exactly the same.”
- “It tastes better than food cooked using firewood.”
One volunteer admitted that she initially feared electrocution, but after safely using the appliance, she was reassured of its safety. Another participant, impressed by the food, requested that the appliances be made available under hire-purchase arrangements.
Exhibitions
Over 11 companies exhibited products at the Central Market in Mbale City, not limited to electric cooking appliances but also including liquefied petroleum gas, briquettes, improved cookstoves, among other clean cooking technologies.
Exhibitions
Participants were asked to rate the food cooked in an EPC, to which they responded:
- “ The aroma is so inviting”
- “ I tastes exactly the same”
- “It tastes better than food cooked using firewood”
One of the volunteers remarked that she harbored initial fears of electrocution while she cooked using the appliance but was glad that the cooking process was without incident, attesting to the safety of the electric pressure cooker.
Another participant on tasting the food simply requested that the appliances be made available under hire-purchase arrangements to enable interested parties to purchase them.
SUSTAINABILITY OF CLEAN COOKING PROMOTION IN MBALE CITY
To ensure long-term impact, several key actions were initiated:
Formation of a Clean Cooking Coordination Forum:
Proposed by the workshop participants, the forum will be led by Ms. Rhoda Nyaribi, the Mbale City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, and Mr. Ali Walusimbi, President of the City Development Forum.
Community Champions:
71 leaders from the workshop registered to become clean cooking ambassadors in their communities.
Business Engagement:
About 30 businesses and individuals expressed interest in becoming clean cooking appliance distributors in Mbale City.
A video story of the workshops is available here: https://youtu.be/rMfemUoDHMg
