Gakenke Inaugurates LPG-Powered Clean Cooking System in Schools to Protect the Environment
On 28 July 2026, Gakenke District officially inaugurated a clean cooking system powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at Lycée Saint Jérôme Janja, marking a significant step toward promoting sustainable energy use in schools and strengthening environmental conservation efforts. The inauguration was attended by the Mayor of Gakenke District, Vestine Mukandayisenga, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, H.E. Kazuya Nakajo, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), DUHAMIC-ADRI, security agencies, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs of Musanze District, and other government officials and development partners. Implemented by IOMRwanda in Partnership with Duhamic ADRI with financial support from the Government of Japan, the project promotes the adoption of cleaner cooking energy in schools to reduce dependence on firewood, protect forests, and improve environmental sustainability. Under the initiative, LPG storage and distribution systems have been installed in seven schools across Gakenke and Musanze districts: GS Saint Jérôme Janja, APICUR, MIPC, École des Sciences de Musanze, TSS Nemba, Janja TVET, and ES Nyarutovu. Speaking at the event, Mayor Vestine Mukandayisenga expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan, IOM, and all partners for supporting the initiative. She noted that the transition to LPG will contribute to forest conservation, reduce pressure on natural resources, and provide a healthier and cleaner cooking environment for students and school staff. Ambassador H.E. Kazuya Nakajo reaffirmed Japan's commitment to supporting sustainable development and climate action in Rwanda. He emphasized that the project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional biomass cooking, protect ecosystems, and improve the well being of students and surrounding communities while advancing the country's transition to cleaner energy solutions.