BY FR. NICHOLAS ONYAIT MCCJ
Alex Kagame is 28 years old. He was born in Kabubu, Nakaseke district near Kiwoko. He went to St. Aloysius Primary School in Nakazi, Luweero, then to Hands of Grace Secondary School Lugazi and Lugazi Mixed Secondary School for O and A levels respectively. After his A’ level, Kagame pursued a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Kyambogo University, majoring in Chemistry and Biology. He taught for a few years after graduation, until 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
During the pandemic,like many teachers, Kagame was rendered redundant. It is out of this redundancy that he remembered a problem that his community in Nakaseke faced back then. There was massive tree cutting for charcoal and firewood but he was saddened especially by the reality of seeing people cut even fruit trees in their compounds to burn charcoal and use the little pieces of wood for firewood.
Alex Kagame himself had at one time been a charcoal dealer but rather than continue draining the environment, he thought of finding a solution to this problem. So, using his knowledge of science, he thought of doing something that would maximize the use of cooking energy while at the same time conserving the environment. He would maximize and conserve the heat energy generated either from firewood or charcoal. Although he had initially pondered about using gas and electricity, he didn’t see that feasible since an average person in his community could not afford it.
To prepare himself better for what he wanted to put into practice, Kagame traveled to Kenya after the first lock down to do a short practical course on energy saving. He spent two months there. The course was fruitful. However, he realized that the energy options to replace firewood and charcoal that he got to know about while in Kenya, were not easily available in Uganda. The volcanic rocks, varulite and gloggle used as basic heat energy absorbers in solar stoves such that no heat is lost to the surrounding were not easily available in Uganda.
Initially, when he made his first energy-saving stoves, he forged an option to replace the gloggle with a mixture of cow dung and clay. Although the stoves were efficient in saving energy, their functionality span was short; yet Kagame wanted something durable. He visited some of his colleagues who were engaged in a similar trade and it was from them that he discovered that there were some deposits of Vanislite in Uganda, around Kajjansi, along Entebbe Road. He would buy a bag of 50kg at 50 thousand Uganda shillings. His passion for what he was doing gave him the courage. He gave time to study and research, learning and unlearning as he went on to discover his own innovation.
Alex Kagame now operates his own stove-making company called Kairos Stoves in Luweero. He makes a variety of stoves that use firewood, charcoal, volcanic rocks and briquettes. Kagame prides in the fact that his cooking stoves save up to 80% of the energy generated from any of the products used. In other words, the amount of charcoal used in cooking while using the energy-saving stove is less compared to one that uses the ordinary charcoal stove.
Other advantages associated with using his kind of stoves include: low smoke produced thus, low pollution and reduced risks of accidents during cooking because of the insulation on the stoves. Some of his stoves also come with an oven, a water heating point, and a grill for barbeques, depending on the desires of his clients. He also makes special stoves used in heating for saunas and steam baths. His company, Kairos Stoves employs a team of 9 youths. He markets most of his products on Facebook, Instagram, and adverts on local televisions. Kagame brags about having clientele across the country. He makes stoves for home use, hotels, schools and restaurants always suiting his clients’ demands.
Just like in any business, Kagame faces some challenges. Firstly, he admits that the cost of production of a simple single stove is high. Besides, some people don’t want to change from their old methods of cooking. Despite these challenges, Kagame has achieved a lot and does not regret leaving the classroom as a teacher of Biology and Chemistry. He says he has learnt a lot about business management and is proud of employing himself. As he gets exposed to people through his business, he has also learnt to assimilate the values of commitment, honesty, diligence and integrity in dealing with his clients. This has enabled him to win their trust. Most of his clients got him online and thus he has had to ensure that he is genuine in all that he engages in to win their trust for himself and his business.
The young entrepreneur urges all young people to have personal discipline in whatever they venture into. He acknowledges that many young people want to earn a living in a scrupulous way, which is a great loophole in any business entity. Although he still has a long way to go in growing his business and modifying his stoves, Kagame says he has registered a good financial achievement that has enabled him to open up a shop that sells electrical items. He is able to take care of his wife and children.
