Mudstoves: healthier kitchens, healthier communities

Mudstove workshop hosted at a local community home

Community members got their hands dirty learning how to make mudstoves at the most recent workshop hosted by Busubi Empowered Communities (BEC). The mudstoves improve the health and safety of cooking in the home, as well as speeding up the cooking process and reducing the amount of firewood needed.

Students and community members gathered at the kitchen of local Nagawa Prossy where they watched the real-time installation of a mudstove. Thanks to the support of the Inner Wheel Club of Lwengo, the practical class is empowering trainees and community members with the knowledge and skill to improve the health and efficiency of their home kitchen–all using locally available materials.

A class with true hands-on experience

Benefits of a Mudstove

Using a mudstove in an indoor kitchen provides two very important benefits:

Health and safety: Mudstoves reduce the dangerous gases produced by traditional fuel burning, helping to create cleaner, safer cooking environments.

Everyone was on the tools to build the mudstove

Cost and time saving: With a mudstove design, one set of firewood can be used to cook multiple items at once, cutting down on both wood usage and time spent cooking.

These simple but effective benefits make mudstoves a sustainable solution for families in the wider BEC community.

Made with local materials

The trainees learned to build mudstoves using natural, locally sourced materials, including:

• Tomato leaves

• Soil silt

• Sand

• Anthill soil

• Sawdust

• Banana stem

• Loam soil

• Water

When combined, these ingredients create a strong and efficient cooking stove that is affordable and accessible for community members.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to the support of the Inner Wheel Club of Lwengo, this training has equipped participants with skills they can take away and replicate in their own homes. The mudstove project not only saves resources and improves the health of local homes, it also empowers community members to share this knowledge with others—multiplying its impact across Busubi and beyond.

The mudstove in construction on BEC campus

Back on site at BEC, youth leaders and trainees have already begun construction of a mudstove in the kitchen used to prepare meals. This wonderful investment into BEC helps improve the safety of operations at BEC, as well as reduce the cost of materials needed by the centre. It also gives students a great opportunity to practice their new skills.

This training workshop is a clear example of how simple, practical innovations can transform homes and lives. At Busubi Empowered Communities, every project is a step towards empowerment, sustainability, and healthier living and we’re appreciative of another opportunity to partner with Inner Wheel.

Trainees gathered with Inner Wheel representatives, trainer and Nagawa Prossy at her home

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