Experts have warned that Uganda's heavy reliance on charcoal for household energy is threatening forests, public health, and sustainable development, while highlighting the urgent need for coordinated interventions to transition to cleaner fuels.
Sarah Ssewanyana, Executive Director of the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), said charcoal remains the dominant source of energy for cooking, particularly among urban and rural households, due to its affordability and availability.
However, she cautioned that the continued dependence on charcoal is fueling deforestation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and exacerbating health risks from indoor smoke.
"Charcoal is not the only driver of forest loss; agriculture, urbanization, and population growth also play major roles," Ssewanyana said during a forum in Kampala on energy production and utilization.
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"But households continue to rely on it because electricity is expensive and unreliable, even for higher-income families."
Ssewanyana highlighted that behavioral preferences, such as the taste and aroma of food cooked with charcoal, along with high costs of cleaner alternatives and inconsistent electricity supply, have slowed Uganda's energy transition.
She emphasized that overcoming these challenges requires coordinated national efforts.
"The charcoal ecosystem is complex. Many actors rely on it, from producers and transporters to retailers and consumers," she said. "Siloed interventions will not work. Coordination across government, communities, and the private sector is critical to achieve sustainable outcomes."
According to Ssewanyana, Uganda's National Development Plan (NDP) and Vision 2040 strategy prioritize cleaner energy adoption.
The plan aims to reduce household charcoal use from 75% to 50% within the next five years.
She warned that achieving this target requires urgent, integrated action, including policy enforcement, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.
"While we celebrate poverty reduction, many households still cannot access electricity or LPG. Emerging alternatives like briquettes can help, but they must be produced sustainably," Ssewanyana said. "The challenge is both technical and behavioral. We must make clean energy accessible, reliable, and culturally acceptable."
Dr. Linda Nakato, Research Fellow at EPRC, echoed these concerns, noting that more than 70% of urban households, particularly in Kampala, continue to use charcoal despite government subsidies for electricity and LPG.
She said the subsidies, while helpful, have not overcome affordability issues or cultural preferences.
"The government has introduced subsidies, including government-supplied LPG cylinders, but even wealthier households continue to use charcoal. This highlights the complexity of the problem," Nakato said.
Nakato explained that charcoal production is concentrated in some of Uganda's poorest districts, particularly in the north and western regions, where more than 70% of the population lives below the poverty line.
She stressed that policies aimed at reducing charcoal production must consider the livelihoods of these communities, warning that abrupt transitions could worsen poverty unless alternative income sources are provided.
The EPRC researcher also highlighted fragmentation across the charcoal value chain, with multiple actors and government agencies responsible for production, transport, wholesale, retail, and household consumption. She said the lack of coordination undermines sustainable production and utilization.
"The production, transport, trade, and consumption of charcoal are managed by different authorities with minimal coordination, leading to inefficiencies and enforcement challenges," Nakato said. "Sustainable management requires an integrated approach across all levels of the value chain."
Dr. Nakato added that the environmental and social impacts of charcoal are significant, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and health hazards from indoor smoke.
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She said behavioral interventions are crucial, as many Ugandans continue to prefer the taste and aroma of charcoal-cooked food.
To meet the NDP target of reducing household charcoal use from 75% to 50% within five years, both experts said the government, local authorities, and communities must implement coordinated measures, including targeted subsidies, educational campaigns, and sustainable energy programs.
"Transitioning to cleaner energy is not only a technical issue; it also requires behavior change, affordability, and protection of livelihoods," Nakato said. "Without these measures, Uganda risks undermining both its environmental goals and economic development objectives."
Experts stress that Uganda's charcoal dependency reflects a broader challenge: balancing environmental sustainability, energy access, and poverty alleviation.
Coordinated policy, regulation, and investment in clean energy infrastructure are critical to ensuring that the country meets its development and climate goals.
