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Agago residents turn to energy-saving stoves to curb firewood use

30 October 2025, 3:55 PM

Community members say the new stove not only conserves the environment but also reduces the burden on women who spend hours collecting firewood from distant areas.

By Freeman Canogura

Residents of Adilang subcounty in Agago district have welcomed a new energy-saving stove technology known as Keno Madit, introduced by Access Centre Uganda under its Smart Climate Program. The innovation aims to reduce dependence on firewood and promote environmental preservation through climate-smart solutions.

The stove, made from locally available materials, optimises firewood consumption and reduces smoke production due to better burning conditions in the stove compared to a traditional three stone stove. A further advantage is the flexibility of this stove. It can be made in a way that supports different fuel sources like charcoal or firewood and is movable.

According to Ms. Oyella Brenda, the lead farmer responsible for Keno Madit stove production in Odom village, the stove requires little wood and can cook several meals without adding more firewood, saving families time and protecting nearby forests. Oyella was trained by Access Centre Uganda on how to make cost-effective and eco-friendly stoves. She said the stoves are in high demand because they are reliable, faster, and safer to use.

Another user, Ms. Beatrice Akot, a 19-year-old resident of Lacekoto village, said she has benefited greatly from the rocket stove method introduced through the program. She said she can now cook faster and save firewood, using it to boil beans for up to two hours without refueling. Akot says the stove helps her complete household chores efficiently and that she now feels safer, as she no longer walks long distances in search of firewood.

Ms. Nancy Oroma, the Smart Climate Program Coordinator at Access Centre Uganda, said the project is part of a broader effort to promote climate-smart living and sustainable land use. She noted that communities in Adilang have shown impressive adoption rates, setting an example for other subcounties in Agago. Oroma adds that the program not only conserves trees but also protects women’s health from smoke-related illnesses while encouraging local entrepreneurship through stove production.

The Keno Madit stove initiative is expected to expand to more subcounties in Agago district as part of efforts to reduce deforestation and enhance community resilience against climate change.