KYUKA VENTURES

Kyuka Ventures is a tech-enabled startup that recycles plastic waste into gas, a clean and low-cost alternative to charcoal and fossil fuels. The project addresses the problems of plastic waste and energy poverty in Uganda and Africa, which affect the environment and human health. Uganda generates 600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, but only 40 per cent is recycled (NEMA, 2018). The rest causes pollution, degradation, and diseases. Plastic waste also emits greenhouse gases, threatening marine life and climate change (UNEP, 2017). Uganda also lacks clean and affordable energy, especially in rural areas, where 90 per cent of households use firewood or charcoal (UBOS, 2019). These fuels cause indoor air pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion, leading to respiratory diseases, biodiversity loss, and land degradation (The Atlantic, 2021). Kyuka Ventures uses a chemical-free and energy-conserving technology called "Soot free reactive extraction technology" to convert plastic waste into gas, which can be used for cooking, heating, or powering vehicles and generators. Kyuka Ventures also collaborates with marginalized youth and women groups to collect, sort, and process waste plastics, providing income-generating opportunities and addressing unemployment. Kyuka Ventures has launched the "Waste Insure" program, which uses waste as a financial resource for micro health insurance. Through this program, slum dwellers can pay for healthcare services by using plastic garbage as payment, incentivizing organized waste management and entrepreneurship. Kyuka Ventures generates revenue from the sale of  gas, and reinvests it to scale up operations, generate more carbon emission savings, create green jobs, and reduce the effects of climate change. Kyuka Ventures' mission is to provide sustainable and affordable energy solutions to rural communities in Uganda while promoting environmental conservation and economic empowerment. Kyuka Ventures aims to improve quality of life, enhance healthcare access, reduce child mortality rates, and combat climate change through its innovative and community-centered approach.

Kyuka Ventures solves this problem by transforming plastic waste into clean cooking fuel ( LPG), while providing health insurance and waste management solutions for the poor slum dwellers in Kampala. Kyuka Ventures sources its scrap plastic from marginalized youths and her 150 women plastic collectors that sell it to the company in kilos ( 1kg for 500 Uganda shillings). Kyuka Ventures uses a patent pending 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. Kyuka Ventures distributes the gas in cylinders and stoves to the customers, who use a pay-as-you-cook model that makes the gas affordable,($1.3/L) and our plastic extrusion technology, Soot free reactive extraction technology (SFRET), transforms 8-10 tonnes of plastic waste monthly into durable plastic fuel. Kyuka Ventures also offers a micro health insurance program called "waste Insure" that allows the community to pay for health cover, drugs and other clinical services by using plastic waste as payment. Kyuka Ventures generates revenue from the sale of gas as well as from the fees collected from the insurance scheme. Kyuka Ventures aims to reduce child mortality by 35%, improve maternal health reducing by 65% deaths in women caused by home-based deliveries due to postpartum bleeding, save forests by 65%, mitigate climate change by 85% and create 1000 green jobs  ( by 2028) by incentivizing the collection and recycling of plastic waste. Kyuka Ventures is a pioneer in using plastic waste as a financial and environmental resource for the benefit of the society.

Our target customer segment is the rural and urban population in Uganda who are looking for affordable and clean alternatives to conventional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. According to the IEA, Uganda has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, with over 90% of its population relying on biomass for cooking and heating. This contributes to environmental degradation, health problems, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, there is a growing demand for low-carbon solutions in the country. The alternative fuel market in Uganda is projected to grow from USD 213 million in 2022 to USD 1012 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.7%. This market includes various types of fuels such as biodiesel, natural gas, hydrogen, electricity, and biofuels. Our business model focuses on providing clean cooking fuel (LPG) to our customers, as LPG is the most promising and cost-effective alternative fuel in the market. The global LPG market size was USD 147.76 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 291.42 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.9%. LPG accounted for 80% of the global alternative fuel sales in 2020. We believe that our business model can be expanded beyond our current city or country, as there is a huge potential for LPG adoption in Africa, especially with the increasing availability of renewable energy sources and climate finance. We expect to capture a significant market share in the Ugandan clean cooking market over the next 3 to 5 years, as we offer competitive prices, high-quality products, and convenient services to our customers. We also aim to leverage our network of partners and stakeholders to create a strong brand image and customer loyalty.

Our key management staff members are highly dedicated professionals with an amalgam of more than  10 years of experience and expertise in Oil & gas, government policy to ensure that business operation requirements are given a thorough input. We have a complementary team comprised of business leaders, innovators, passionate social entrepreneurs, expert engineers, seasoned researchers, the sales team and a technical board of advisors. The team has undergone over 5 business development programs in form of accelerations and incubation, has won several awards both nationally and internationally.

Matini Janepher,  co founder,  two degree holder from Makerere University, has 6 years of experience in waste management  and community development. Worked for two waste valuation companies, former  manager of NEMA. Janepher,  Production Manager and Quality Control Officer. In charge of production at the workshop, ensuring quality control for products, manages the facility, with skills in material innovation, Waste improvement, community development and Material handling, which includes procurement and inventory.

Sonko Jamal a cofounder. He oversees the overall operations of the company from production, quality assurance to sells and marketing, strategic management, Public and Investor relations, and is the accounting officer for Kyuka ventures . 

Kariisa Sudaisi, Chief Engineering Officer & Research and Development. Sudais is a renowned social entrepreneur based in India , with over 7 years in social entrepreneurship.  He is a strategic business partner and his role is finding strategic partners, Research and Development, and sustainability lead. 

Nyangoma Shivan , United Kingdom, Technical Advisor: Shivane  has a Bachelor of Environmental science  (First Class Honors) - The Open University, UK, Diploma in Community  Development - The Open University, UK, Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages (French/German) - University of Oxford, UK. Expert in Production Improvement Engineer in manufacturing since 2015.

We have launched waste Insure- a micro Waste Medical Insurance program for low income households who use waste plastics as a form of financial resource for medical services with 100 households currently. Our plan is to recruit 100,000+ slum dwellers on this scheme in the next 3 years, this will enable reliable access to healthcare without having to worry about cost.   

Green Jobs:  So far Kyuka ventures  has created 50 permanent and 100 part time jobs (collection and sorting of waste), as well as empowered and educated 1,000 individuals in the City of Kampala.We have saved over 25,000 households from hygiene-related diseases, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10  tonnes per month, and created over 300 green jobs for marginalized youths and women both indirectand directly. We are recycling 8tonnes of plastic waste every month and producing 2800litres of LPG monthly.

I would love to be empowered by learning about business and entrepreneurship and how to bring Silicon Valley Innovation into my work. I strongly feel that my participation in the program  will help me to develop critical thinking and analysis skills which are a recipe for the achievement of my goals as a young business leader and live to see my innovation growing for social impact.

 I am looking forward to being empowered with 21 century skills through this program in the areas of strategic planning, marketing and brand management, sustainable business modeling and gaining insights from global business professionals. I expect to network and share my life experiences and tell my story thus building a long lasting relationship with a pool of successful young global leaders, entrepreneurs and business experts from diverse cultural backgrounds whom I will share ideas with, challenges and pandemic inspired solutions that will reshape our communities. 

I intend to use learned skills and knowledge gained  to inspire and motivate other change makers at work and in my community on how to discover new ways of making a difference to sustainably better communities for both social and economic prosperity. 

Kyuka Ventures is a social enterprise that transforms plastic waste into clean cooking fuel ( LPG), while providing health insurance and waste management solutions for the poor slum dwellers in Kampala. Kyuka Ventures sources its scrap plastic from marginalized youths and her 150 women plastic collectors that sell it to the company in kilos ( 1kg for 500 Uganda shillings). Kyuka Ventures uses a patent pending free and energy conserving technology called "soot free reactive extraction Technology" to convert plastic waste into hydrocarbon based fuel that can replace fossil fuels, charcoal and firewood. Kyuka Ventures also offers a micro health insurance program called "waste Insure" that allows the community to pay for health cover, drugs and other clinical services by using plastic waste as payment. Kyuka Ventures generates revenue from the sale of gas as well as from the fees collected from the insurance scheme. Kyuka Ventures aims to reduce child mortality by 35%, improve maternal health reducing by 65% deaths in women caused by home-based deliveries due to postpartum bleeding, save forests by 65%, mitigate climate change by 85% and create 1000 green jobs  ( by 2028) by incentivizing the collection and recycling of plastic waste. Kyuka Ventures is a pioneer in using plastic waste as a financial and environmental resource for the benefit of the society.

 Kyuka ventures  is incentivising the collection of plastic waste, kick-starting waste management systems and building transparency in the supply chains of recyclers and plastic producers. The use of soot free extraction  technology ensures both transparency and traceability throughout the value chain

Kyuka ventures  has devised a system which allows people to exchange plastic waste for tokens. The tokens can be exchanged for money or used to pay for plastic cleanups in other locations.

We use an innovative, chemical free and less energy consumption technology to recycle and transform post consumer plastic waste into affordable and durable plastic fuel  which are an alternative to dirty fuels  to ensure cleaner and healthier environment while reducing effects of climate change, pollution rates and giving better margin to our customers.

 our fuel  is cleanest burning alternative fuel making it an inherently safe fuel,50% less than cost of other fuels in terms of calorific value resulting in substantial saving in fuel cost. 

We work with youth and women in slum areas of Kampala. These are areas that historically have been neglected by authorities on issues such as sanitation, education and health care. These areas have little economic activity leading to high unemployment. Life is generally desperate.

About half are recent arrivals from the rural areas looking for betteropportunities in the city. Most residents are youth (<35 years old).Many are married with children who are less than 5 years old.

Being aware of their plight, we are able to engage members of our community in a way that uplifts their livelihoods socially and economically. We have set up 3 plastic collection yards in Kitezi and Bwaise (nearby slum areas). We have set up our plant in the same area.

Initiatives addressing the same issue include:

(1) A government ban on plastics in June 2007 which quickly proved impractical and unsustainable due to no viable alternatives for consumers.

(2) There are numerous non-profits in Uganda’s waste industry which quickly cease to exist once donor funding ends

These initiatives have proved to be unsustainable. Our project permanently withdraws an iteam which is considered to be a waste and converts into a useful product which is highly on demand. This way we provide sanitation to slum areas where blocked drainage & sewers due to plastic is common, we employ locals in plastic waste collection where they earn US$ 5.75/day, we pay those employed in our plant at 1.3times the average national wage.

Being a for-profit social enterprise, we are economically sustainable through sales of posts. The market loves the plastic alternatives because they are safe and clean,.

Kyuka ventures  has launched, “WasteInsure” which is a micro health insurance program which uses waste  as a financial resource. With this program, the community and uninsured poor slum dwellers are able to pay for health cover, drugs and other clinical services by using plastic waste as payment to an insurance scheme.

Kyuka ventures is at the forefront in increasing clean energy availability and access to consumers especially those in the rural areas who continue to suffer from Household Air Pollution (HAP)

 It is estimated that about 18% of households in Uganda  use clean energy as their primary source of cooking. The remaining 72% of households mostly depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking. Exposure to household air pollution is responsible for 16,600 deaths and the loss of 502,000 disability adjusted life-years annually.

 Our energy emits lower greenhouse gas emissions than alternatives, CO2 emissions are relatively low. Greenhouse gases are reduced by 5-16 times per prepared meal compared to coal.  we will therefore Transform 300 metric tons of hazardous plastic content from being burnt and incinerated through waste processing technology. Preventing 3.5kgmil of global greenhouse gasses and carbon footprint such as methane and nitrous oxide that would have resulted from plastic burning practices minimizing on emissions generated from using inefficient fuels

Create  over 300 direct and indirect jobs over the investment period with specialized training provided to staff and Contributing towards the development and structuring of the renewable energy  recirculation model in Uganda  to create a safer environment for clean distribution

We measure our success and traction by using various metrics that reflect our social, environmental, and economic impact such as The amount of plastic waste that we collect and recycle per year, which is currently around 100 metric tons. This shows how much waste we divert from landfills, incinerators, and open burning, which are harmful to the environment and human health.  The amount of clean cooking fuel and gas that we produce and distribute per year, which is currently around 70,000 liters. This shows how much energy we provide to our customers, especially those in rural areas who lack access to reliable and affordable energy sources. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions that we reduce per year, which is currently around 3.5 million kilograms. This shows how much we contribute to mitigating climate change and improving air quality by replacing conventional fuels with low-carbon alternatives. The number of households that we serve per year, which is currently around 25,000. This shows how many people we impact positively by providing them with clean, safe, and cheap cooking fuel, which reduces their exposure to household air pollution and hygiene-related diseases. The number of jobs that we create annually, which is currently  300. This shows how many income opportunities we generate for marginalized youths and women who collect and sell plastic waste to us, as well as for our staff and partners who work in our production and distribution operations.

The technology used in the project is a patent pending soot free and energy conserving technology called "soot free reactive extraction Technology" that converts plastic waste into hydrocarbon based fuel that can replace fossil fuels, charcoal and firewood. This technology is based on the principle of pyrolysis, which is the thermal decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The technology uses a specially designed reactor that heats the plastic waste to high temperatures and produces a mixture of gas, liquid, and solid products. The gas is then purified and compressed into LPG, while the liquid and solid products are used as raw materials for other industries. The technology is environmentally friendly, as it does not produce any harmful emissions or waste, and it is energy efficient, with our natural profiled Bignin that helps extraction and conversion of 12 different types,  without losing stability,  the gas produced,  is recycled to heat the reactor. The technology is also cost-effective, as it reduces the dependence on imported fossil fuels and creates value from plastic waste.

The technology is still in the development stage and has not been used commercially in the market yet. However, the project has conducted several pilot tests and demonstrations to validate the feasibility and performance of the technology. The project has also applied for a patent for the technology and is in the process of obtaining the necessary licenses, consents, and permits from the relevant authorities and regulators. The project has also secured some purchase agreements with potential customers and partners who are interested in using or distributing the LPG produced by the technology. The project plans to launch the technology in the market by the end of 2024, after completing the final testing and certification processes.

10 full-time works

150- part time workers who are waste collectors

40 - volunter workers 

3 years 

Sonko Jamal expertise in renewable energy, Community engagement exchange fellow, MCN fellow, Barter alumnus, impact toolbox. Waste reduction entrepreneur. Studied Bachelor of  laws from Kampala International University and a background of Environmental Science from Makerere University 

Matini Janepher is a two degree holder from Makerere University, has 6 years of experience in waste management  and community development. Worked for two waste valuation companies, former  manager of NEMA.

Nyangoma Shivane MBA in business Administration and Management from Oxford University, with 6 years of experience in waste management and product marketing, Researcher of MasterCard and restless Uganda.

I work with youth and women in slum areas of Kampala. These are areas that historically have been neglected by authorities on issues such as sanitation, education and health care. These areas have little economic activity leading to high unemployment. Life is generally desperate with people leaving on less than $2/day.

About half are recent arrivals from the rural areas looking for better opportunities in the city. Most residents are youth (<35 years old).Many are married with children who are less than 5 years old.

Being aware of their plight, I am able to engage members of my community in a way that uplifts their livelihoods socially and economically on the plastic waste value chain

Kyuka ventures  has launched, “Waste Insure” which is a micro health insurance program which uses waste as a financial resource. With this program, the community and un insured poor slum dwellers are able to pay for health cover, drugs and other clinical services by using plastic waste as payment to an insurance scheme.  While improving healthcare access and sanitation, we aim to reduce high child mortality rate in slums by 35% and reduce by 65% deaths among expectant women caused by home-based deliveries and post-natal bleeding.

KYUKA VENTURES  works with marginalized youths and women to collect, sort and process waste plastics into durable clean fuel and gas . Kyuka ventures  sources its scrap plastic from 5 youth or women groups across major slums in Kampala who collect plastic wastes and sell to us per kilo. We use a chemical free and energy conserving technology to transform plastic waste into hydro carbon based fuel capable of replacing fossil fuels .

Kyuka ventures  has launched, “waste Insure” which is a micro health insurance program which uses waste as a financial resource. With this program, the community and uninsured poor slum dwellers are able to pay for health cover, drugs and other clinical services by using plastic waste as payment to an insurance scheme. This offers the community an incentive to start an organized waste management and waste entrepreneurship system from household level so as to benefit from continual health insurance, alternative waste management solutions, reduced dependency on firewood ,charcoal and un safe fuels  . While improving healthcare access and sanitation, we aim to reduce high child mortality rate in slums by 35% and reduce by 65% deaths among expectant women caused by home-based deliveries and post-natal bleeding.

Kyuka ventures generates revenue from sale of  gas ( LPG) this makes 90% of the total revenues and 10% from other sources.

Kyuka ventures  uses the revenue to acquire better machines, scale up, creating more carbon emission savings, generating green jobs especially for the marginalized youth and women and reducing the effect of climate change.

A plastic to fuel and gas company in Uganda makes money through its revenue model, which involves the conversion of plastic waste into usable fuels and gases. The company collects plastic waste from various sources, including households, businesses, and industries, and then processes it using specialized equipment to produce fuel and gas products.The company generates revenue by selling the fuel and gas products to commercial and industrial consumers, such as power plants, factories, and transportation companies. The fuel and gas products are cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to traditional fossil fuels, which makes them a popular alternative in the market.

Additionally, the company may generate revenue through the sale of by-products, such as carbon black or other materials that can be used in the manufacturing of other products. The company may also charge fees for waste collection and disposal services, which can further add to their revenue streams.