In July 2024, 17 refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) technicians received specialized training on R290 commercial fridges, while 12 R600a freezers were donated to national training centers to enhance practical hands-on training.
R290 Fridges Technician Training
The Green Cooling Initiative (GCI III), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), in partnership with the National Ozone Unit of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Uganda National Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (UNARA), conducted a five-day training session for 17 technicians from July 15 to 19, 2024. Held at the Nakawa Renewable Energy Training Center in Kampala, the training focused on the safe handling of R290 fridges.
The comprehensive program covered environmental safety regulations, equipment safety, end-user safety, and energy efficiency when using hydrocarbon refrigerants. Practical exercises included installation, maintenance, repair, leak testing, brazing, and appliance testing and commissioning.
Donation of R600a Freezers to National Training Centers
At the end of July 2024, 12 eco-friendly 300L freezers using R600a refrigerant were donated to selected national institutions to support practical training in refrigeration and air conditioning. The beneficiary institutions – Bushenyi Technical College, Kasese Youth Polytechnic, NICWood TechHub in Kasese, Amelo Technical Institute, and Ogolai Technical Institute – were identified by NEMA as suitable for conducting future training courses utilizing these R600a freezers.
These initiatives mark a significant step towards promoting environmentally friendly refrigeration and air conditioning technologies in Uganda, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change.
