TAKEAWAYS

• Socialite Prima Kadarshi admitted she never actually cooked for her former food brand, Lusaniya, relying instead on hired professionals.
• A heated debate erupted over charcoal use in Uganda after musician Eddy Kenzo raised concerns about its hygiene and health risks.
• Kadarshi sparked controversy by alleging Minister Phiona Nyamutoro may have business ties to companies pushing for cleaner cooking energy.

Ugandan socialite and entrepreneur Prima Kadarshi has revealed that cooking has never been one of her passions, despite her involvement in the food business through her former company, Lusaniya.

Speaking during an appearance on the with MC Kats, Prima explained that although she owned a food business, she was not the person preparing the meals herself. Instead, she relied on hired chefs to handle the cooking.

Prima, who made a name for herself as both an entrepreneur and a celebrity personality, humorously suggested that her beauty was one reason she preferred staying away from the kitchen.

According to her, being involved in the food business did not necessarily mean she had to be the one cooking, as she could employ people with the expertise to do the job.

The conversation also turned to the ongoing debate surrounding charcoal use in Ugandan households, following musician Eddy Kenzo’s remarks about the disadvantages of cooking with charcoal.

Kenzo has reportedly highlighted concerns about charcoal, including the dirt it leaves on clothes and its potential health effects, as discussions about cleaner cooking alternatives continue in the country.

During the discussion, MC Kats questioned the situation, expressing surprise that Kenzo, who grew up in a household where charcoal cooking was common, was now speaking against it.

Prima, meanwhile, suggested that political and business interests could be connected to the push for alternative cooking energy. She alleged that Kenzo’s wife, Minister Phiona Nyamutoro, has links to an energy company that could benefit from promoting alternatives to charcoal.

However, the allegation remains unverified, and there is no established evidence that Nyamutoro’s business interests are behind the government’s position on charcoal.

The debate comes amid wider efforts to promote cleaner cooking methods, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other alternatives, as Uganda weighs environmental protection, public health and the affordability of household energy.