Often when we talk about bringing life changing and impact based products, like clean cook stoves to the harder to reach areas, our minds quickly think of rural communities. In the process we have often unintentionally neglected the populations in informal settlements. Yet, according World Bank reports, it is estimated that the number of people living in informal settlements in Africa is between 350 and 400 million people, a number that is projected to double to 800 million people, by 2040. In Kampala, Uganda, reports estimate that up to 60% of the population live in informal settlements.
At the beginning of this year, Re-Newable Hub (U) LTD was among the organizations, contracted through a grant from ICLEI Africa, under the ENACTUS project to implement clean cooking interventions in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). With a target to increase adoption in households and create sustainable jobs focusing on women and youth.
As Re-Newable Hub, we strategically concentrated in the project areas of Nansana, Kasubi, and Nankulabye. And it is in Nansana where the story of Prossy Nakangu better known as Jaaja Mukyala begins. A Woman Councilor in Nansana Division, she first embraced our Improved Biomass Stoves, as an early adopter before graduating to our DigiWave (DW) electric pressure cooker, as soon as we introduced the product in her division. To quote her words after the product demo to her and members of her household, “ekyuma kino eky’omulembe ekifumba emmere, ey’engeri zonna mu ddakiika ntono, naye ate ng’ekozesa yuniti z’amasannyalaze matono, kintu kye nnina okugula”. Loosely translated “this modern cooker, that cooks all types of food in minutes, yet it uses only limited electricity units, is something I must buy”.
Along the way, having appreciated the benefits of her electric pressure cooker, and fully understanding what it was capable of doing, Jaaja Mukyala wore her hat as a community leader, VSLA group leader, and using her motherly instincts, to spread the message within her community of, Yesu Amala, Ochieng Ward, and far beyond.
Today, she’s not only preaching about the benefits of clean cooking in her community, but has also taken on the role of being our Sales Agent. She has enlisted the highest number of VSLA groups, hence growing the number of women with access to clean cook stoves in her division. Beyond this, she has also signed up youthful ladies in her community to become resellers of our, EPCs, ICSs, and charcoal briquettes there by enabling them to earn commissions. With these proceeds they are bettering the livelihoods of their households in many different aspects, like education and health.
We conclude by saying, Jaaja Mukyala epitomizes and is the true definition of the saying, "Empowered women empower women."