Design of a low-cost thermal cooker using local materials.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
This study was about designing, constructing, and testing a low-cost thermal cooker using materials that are easy to find around Nagongera Town Council. The idea came from seeing how much families still depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking, which ends up wasting a lot of fuel, driving up household costs, and harming the environment. I used an experimental approach to develop and test the cooker. The insulating materials like rice husks, sponge from old mattresses, and cotton fabric were chosen because they are cheap, easy to get, and don't conduct heat well. The cooker works on a simple heat retention principle: you heat the food until it boils, then move the pot into an insulated chamber where it keeps cooking without needing any extra fuel. The test results showed that the thermal cooker could hold onto heat for hours, allowing food to continue cooking even after being taken off the stove. This cut down fuel use significantly compared to traditional cooking methods. The findings also made it clear that good insulation really does improve cooking efficiency and lower energy costs. In the end, this study showed that a simple, affordable thermal cooker made from locally available materials can reduce fuel use, save money on cooking, and reduce the environmental and health problems linked to traditional cooking. This kind of technology is well suited for rural and low-income households.
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Owori, G. (2026). Design of a low-cost thermal cooker using local materials. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.