Equity Bank, UKAID power eCooking through cooperatives
KAMPALA, February 10, 2026 — Equity Bank Uganda, in partnership with UKAID and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, on Monday launched an affordable financing scheme for electric cooking [eCooking] products and technologies in Uganda.
The initiative, under the Modern Energy Cooking Services [ECS] Trust Fund, aims to accelerate the adoption of electric cooking solutions, particularly through community-based structures such as SACCOs and cooperatives across the country.
The Fund was unveiled during a Stakeholder Information Session held at Four Points by Sheraton Kampala Hotel, which brought together government officials, development partners, private sector players, electric cooking companies and cooperatives to explore practical strategies for scaling up clean and efficient cooking technologies nationwide.
Speaking at the event, Catherine Psomgen, Equity Bank Uganda’s Director for Public Sector and Social Investments, said the financing would enable Ugandan businesses to operate more efficiently and competitively.
“Today we have launched eCooking financing to support Ugandan businesses to become more efficient and competitive. While we recognise that electricity costs remain a concern, affordability should be viewed in terms of the total cost of cooking, not electricity alone,” Psomgen said.
She added that by managing the MECS Trust Fund, Equity Bank is providing businesses with much-needed financing to grow, while enabling households to transition to cleaner, safer and more affordable cooking methods.
“This partnership demonstrates how financial institutions can work closely with government and development partners to deliver sustainable impact,” she noted.
The Minister of State for Energy, Okaasai Opolot, highlighted the high cost and limited availability of eCooking equipment as key barriers to adoption in Uganda.
“The main challenges in implementing eCooking in Uganda have been the limited availability of technology and the lack of funding to support importation of appliances. The launch of this Trust Fund is therefore timely, as it provides financing solutions for suppliers,” Opolot said.
UKAID Climate and Energy Policy Officer Lydia Nandawula said the financing reflects the United Kingdom’s long-term commitment to supporting Uganda’s clean cooking transition, not only as a climate priority but also as a development, health, gender and economic opportunity.
“It addresses a specific bottleneck that many stakeholders have consistently raised, particularly access to short-term working capital that allows viable eCooking businesses to grow,” Nandawula said.
The MECS Trust Fund is financed by the British High Commission through UKAID, under the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [FCDO]. It is implemented by Equity Bank Uganda in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
The Fund targets cooperatives and SACCOs, households, small and medium-sized enterprises, micro businesses, importers, manufacturers and institutions operating under government-approved programmes. Beneficiaries can access loans ranging from Shs10 million to over Shs500 million.
As the implementing financial partner, Equity Bank Uganda will manage the Fund and provide financing to eligible eCooking companies, including working capital and bridge financing to help businesses expand operations, strengthen supply chains and make electric cooking appliances more accessible and affordable nationwide.
The initiative directly supports Uganda’s National eCooking Strategy and reflects a broader commitment to environmental protection, improved livelihoods and gender equality.
Yunus Kaleebu of Kyazanga Community SACCO welcomed the programme, saying it would significantly improve the lives of SACCO members.
“This programme will give us a new dimension to life by enabling access to healthy cooking and saving us from illnesses associated with traditional cooking methods,” Kaleebu said.
By supporting companies offering electric cooking technologies, the Fund seeks to reduce reliance on traditional fuels such as charcoal and firewood, while promoting safer, cleaner and more cost-effective alternatives.
The programme is part of an eleven-year research and innovation initiative funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It has supported efforts to strengthen Uganda’s electric cooking ecosystem, with research indicating that electric cooking is not only practical and cost-effective but increasingly preferred by consumers where access exists.
Uganda has also taken significant legislative and policy steps to promote clean cooking. In 2021, the Electricity Regulatory Authority introduced a dedicated cooking electricity tariff to encourage uptake, followed by the launch of the National eCooking Strategy in 2023. The strategy outlines measures for supply chain development, grid expansion, public awareness and the integration of carbon financing.
At COP28, Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up electric cooking, setting a target of 18 percent adoption by 2030.
https://thecooperator.news/mitigating-climate-change-buganda-adopts-biogas-for-clean-cooking/
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