Charcoal and Wood Biomass Utilization in Uganda: The Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics and Implications

Abstract

Charcoal and firewood fuel biomass utilization is thought to be the main cause of deforestation in Uganda. Moreover, the practice of utilizing charcoal and wood fuel in Uganda is said to impact the health of many women and children in the region. The goal of this study was to comprehensively analyze charcoal and wood fuel utilization processes in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa and the environmental and socioeconomic dynamics and implications. The study equally intended to model out some possible improvements to wood fuel use while conserving natural forests. Both qualitative and qualitative approaches were used to study the charcoal and wood fuel energy situation in Uganda. The study collected field data (sample size: 199) which was subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings show that over 90% of households in Uganda and the sub- Saharan region use firewood and charcoal wood fuel, and that this fuel use creates social and environmental hazards. Our findings are also in agreement with numerous empirical studies showing that firewood and charcoal biomass are among the major causes of deforestation in Uganda and the sub-Saharan region. Ceteris paribus, we propose the adoption of Improved Eco-Stoves (ICE), which not only enable comprehensive combustion but also lessen the quantity of firewood used by more than 60%, together with policy decisions on the government of Uganda, given peoples willingness to take on alternative energy sources such as gas and electricity.

Thermal and mechanical characteristics of local firewood species and resulting charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, cooking fuels are mainly dominated by firewood in rural areas and charcoal in urban areas [8,9]. For example, in Uganda, firewood and charcoal production contribute 70.9% of all the forestry activities [10].…”

Energy Strategy for Sustainable Development of Rural Areas Based on the Analysis of Sustainable Digital Economy

“…Alternative energy sources, especially biomass in the form of firewood for burning and hydroelectric for generating electricity, have traditionally been employed in underdeveloped nations ( Bamwesigye et al, 2020 ). Renewable energy contributed to over 13.5% of the total electricity generation of the world in 2017, with non-organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) economies accounting for roughly 72% of that proportion ( Popkova and Sergi, 2021 ).…”

The Effects of Gross Domestic Product and Energy Consumption on Carbon Dioxide Emission in Uganda (1986-2018)

“…However, the contribution of carbon emissions to the growth trajectory of Uganda is not clearly known (Markandya et al, 2015). The Uganda's vision 2040 may be severely hampered by climate factors in the absence of adaptation actions (GOU, 2020) due to overreliance on traditional biomass as the main source of energy (Bamwesigye et al, 2020). Therefore, the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (affordable clean energy) geared towards ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all and SDG 13 (climate action) may be hampered.…”