By Jack Nyakairu
KRC-Uganda
I am Kashungira Jovia, from Kyegegwa district, Ruyonza Sub County, Kishagazi parish. I am a member of the Kayonza Cooking Stove Group. My family and I are grateful to KRC-Uganda for constructing a stove for us. Before the construction of this cook stove, we used to move to very far distances to fetch firewood, crossing Murukoba swamp near the barracks. The situation was threatening for us as women and girls. The stoves are really helping us at the moment, as we are using fewer bundles of firewood. Previously, we would use at least four bundles of firewood per month. Now we are using one bundle of firewood per month, saving us a lot of money that we used to spend on firewood for the Congolese refugees. The stoves constructed by KRC-Uganda have pipes that take smoke out, saving us from the smoke that affected us while cooking on three-stone stoves.
“I am so happy that I can now cook three food items at once. I can cook the main meal, boil water, and cook vegetables too. When I come from the garden, I can leave the porridge cooking while I refresh myself with a bath”. I have two school-going children, a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. My entire household is able to use the stove without any complications. Our girls are now safe from the many challenges they faced while fetching firewood. We really thank KRC-Uganda for saving us from the smoke that made us cough all the time. Our family is happy because cooking has become easy for us, and we always have food in the house.
