In Kiteezi, a recent waste landslide claimed 34 lives and displaced hundreds, a tragic reminder of the urgent need for sustainable waste management. With overflowing landfills and plastic waste accumulating at an alarming rate (approximately 600 tonnes generated daily, with only 5% recycled, according to NEMA, 2018), the environmental and health risks of poor waste disposal are clear.
Rural communities across Uganda face a severe shortage of firewood and charcoal. With deforestation rapidly depleting natural resources and 90% of households still relying on biomass for cooking (WHO, 2021), many are left without viable alternatives. This dual crisis of waste mismanagement and energy poverty places vulnerable communities at risk both environmentally and economically.
Kyuka Ventures is stepping into this breach with a transformative solution: converting plastic waste into clean LPG gas, branded as Kyuka Energies. Using its innovative “Soot-Free Reactive Extraction Technology,” the enterprise converts 40–50 tonnes of plastic waste each month into a fuel that is not only cleaner with up to 93% fewer greenhouse gas emissions but also 42% more affordable than traditional fuels, retailing at UGX3,800 per liter.
In a strategic partnership with Youth4Climate (Y4C), a global initiative co-led by Italy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kyuka Ventures is piloting its project in Katanga, a dynamic area of Kampala known for its vibrant communities and pressing environmental challenges. Through this collaboration, the project is being implemented with a comprehensive approach that includes:
- Infrastructure development: Establishing ten (10) waste collection hubs and refining facilities in Katanga to streamline the process of gathering and processing plastic waste. This initiative leverages support from Youth4Climate to secure funding and technical assistance, ensuring the technology is deployed effectively.
- Community outreach and capacity building: Working closely with local community leaders and women’s groups, Kyuka Ventures is conducting training sessions on clean cooking technologies. The aim is to educate households on the health risks associated with traditional cooking methods while promoting the benefits of switching to LPG. Tailored awareness campaigns complement these efforts, developed in conjunction with Youth4Climate, to maximize community engagement.
- Sustainable business model: The partnership supports a model that converts waste into fuel and integrates social impact initiatives such as the “Waste Insure” program. In Katanga, households can exchange plastic waste for micro health insurance, enhancing public health and creating a circular economy that benefits both the environment and local livelihoods.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to track environmental, social, and economic outcomes. These include metrics such as reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, number of households reached, and improvements in community health, ensuring that the project’s impact is transparent and scalable.
“The tragedy in Kiteezi and the recent bouts of extreme heat should be a wake-up call,” Sonko Jamal, CEO of the Kyuka Ventures, told PC Tech Magazine. “We cannot ignore the dangers of poor waste management and deforestation. Our mission is to provide clean energy and offer communities a sustainable pathway forward, addressing these problems at their roots.”
Kyuka Ventures, in partnership with Youth4Climate, is setting a powerful example in Katanga of how innovation, collaboration, and community engagement can turn environmental challenges into opportunities. By integrating advanced waste-to-energy technology with sustainable development initiatives, the project is paving the way for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for Uganda.
Kyuka Ventures pioneered soot-free and energy-conserving technology called “soot-free reactive extraction Technology” (SFRET) to convert plastic waste into hydrocarbon-based fuel that can replace fossil fuels, charcoal, and firewood. Their patent-pending technology transforms 92% of unsorted, unwashed waste plastic currently diverted and destined for local landfills into ultra-clean, ultra-low-sulfur fuel. According to the startup, the process (of performing the transformation) is economically viable, providing immediate economic benefit for industries, communities, and government organizations with waste plastic recycling challenges.
Kyuka Ventures aims to create economic value from plastic at the points of generation to enable households and companies to sort and sell plastics in order to earn income.
