Institutional stoves are revolutionizing the way schools in Uganda deliver meals to students – and helping preserve the environment in the process. Mr. Were Nassani, deputy of Namalu Mixed Primary School in Nakapiripirit, Karamoja region, is reporting exciting savings in both energy and efficiencies with his school’s Institutional Stove (IS). Before using the IS, the school bought eight bundles of firewood, totaling UGX 24,000 shillings per day, to prepare school meals. The IS reduces their overall consumption to five firewood bundles per day, a total savings of UGX 270,000 a month. This dependence on less firewood is helping the school reduce reliance on biomass fuel, a big winner for the environment.
Money is just one resource conserved by using Institutional Stoves. School cooks who once spent five hours preparing daily meals of Posho, mixed beans and maize for students are now cutting their cooking time in half, giving them more moments to relax and wash clothes. Other benefits: teachers and pupils aren’t waiting for food to be served during class hours; the IS produces less heat in the kitchen; and students don’t grumble about cold food, as the IS keeps their meals warm for three-plus hours.