Overview:
Two Makerere University students win the Best Young Author Award at the 2025 Africa Electricity Symposium for their research on electric pressure cookers in Uganda.
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Two students from Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) have received the prestigious Best Young Author Award at the 2025 Africa Electricity Symposium, a significant continental event held recently in Kampala.
Reagan Kyomuhendo Muhimbo and Shem Christopher Luwandaga were honored for their research paper titled “Understanding the Underutilisation of Electric Pressure Cookers in Urban Uganda: Barriers, Motivators, and Policy Recommendations.” Their work was presented under the symposium’s sub-theme on decentralized and off-grid energy solutions.
The Africa Electricity Symposium, organized by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), convened energy researchers, policymakers, industry players and innovators under the theme: “Powering Africa: Smart, Innovation, and Energy Sustainability for Growth.”
Muhimbo and Luwandaga’s research explores the socio-economic and behavioral factors contributing to the slow adoption of electric pressure cookers (EPCs) in urban areas of Uganda, despite their proven cost-efficiency and environmental advantages.
The paper identifies key obstacles and incentives influencing EPC uptake and offers policy recommendations to accelerate the shift towards cleaner cooking technologies.
The award not only highlights the growing role of youth in energy research but also underscores CEDAT’s increasing influence in sustainable energy innovation. Luwandaga, a former student who now serves as a research assistant on an energy project at CEDAT, continues to contribute significantly to academic and policy discussions.
Their research is anticipated to inform national and regional dialogues on clean cooking strategies, an area vital for achieving sustainable development and energy transition goals across Africa.