Mukono, Buikwe women get training support in briquette production

The initiative is being facilitated by Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU) in partnership with Umama Arise Uganda and seeks to empower women through upskilling and promoting environmental sustainability. 

Through the arrangement, the beverage company donated Shs. 20 Million to be utilized by Umama Arise Uganda to train the women.

The company is also providing 30 solar dryers in five villages in Mukono and Buikwe districts. 

Briquettes provide an eco-friendly way to utilize various types of waste materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and offer alternatives to biomass fuels. 

Pearl Nimusiima, the CCBU Public Affairs and Communications Manager said this initiative would go a long way in providing economic inclusion opportunities for women and youth and environmental sustainability through the collection, recycling, and reuse of plastic waste.

“The interconnected global challenges of packaging waste and climate change have made this a focus for our business and communities, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners like CCBU are taking action on the packaging we use and how we can drive change,” she said.

The women, Nimusiima said will be trained on how to identify PET waste in areas where briquette raw materials are collected, how to sort it and turn it into cash. 

“We are delighted to have a partner like Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda,” said Stephen Magezi, the Co-founder and director of Umama Arise Uganda. 

“The solar dryers provided by CCBU will not only be used to dry the briquettes but will also help the women to dry and preserve the surplus food items that they harvest.”