Women in Uganda choose to cook with biogas, a healthier and more sustainable way of cooking. They inspire each other to embrace this change and see the many benefits it offers for both their families and the environment.

Spezioza in Ndere, Uganda, is one of those women, a dedicated farmer and mother of six children. Firewood became scarce and expensive, and the prices of charcoal rose. Moreover, cooking over an open fire filled her kitchen with smoke. When a neighbor invited her to see a biogas system in action, Spezioza was immediately interested.

“It is such a relief that the air in my kitchen is clean and that I do not have to worry about the horrible wood smoke affecting my children’s health.”

Biogas offers more than just an efficient way to cook. The system also produces bio-slurry, a powerful organic fertilizer that enriches the soil and makes crops healthier. Spezioza shares how she saw her neighbor’s plants growing.

Since her choice to install the biogas system, cooking is faster and safer, freeing up more time for other tasks. The kitchen remains smoke-free, and her children can sit with her while she cooks without health risks. The effects of the bio-slurry on the farm are clearly visible. “The leaves of our crops are greener and shine as if they are polished,” says her husband Silver. The increased yields ensure food security and extra income. The investment pays off.

By switching from traditional cooking methods that rely on firewood and charcoal, these women not only improve their health by reducing exposure to smoke, but they also contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and the pressure on forests. Want to know more? Invest in this clean cooking project.

Photo: Example of a biogas system, by: Sven Torfin.