Objectives/Challenges:
Biomass energy in Uganda, including firewood, charcoal and crop residues, accounts for over 90% of the total energy supply. To meet the basic needs of cooking and water heating, most households in rural areas rely on this source of energy. Biomass is currently used in very inefficient ways, including the traditional three-stone-fire and inefficient charcoal stoves.
Lessons Learned:
Awareness campaigns, training of the stove artisans and quality management are part of an elaborate approach to scaling up access to modern household energy in Uganda. This strategy works like a “snowball” effect: To begin with, NGO workers are trained, these again train sub-county level representatives who then facilitate the training of stove artisans. Along with the training and construction, awareness messages about efficient cooking practices are spread so that the technology is adopted together with the techniques. This approach has allowed the construction of so far around 200,000 improved stoves in rural areas of Uganda.
Policy Options:
Possible policy measures for responding to biomass energy crises include:
Summary:
Until the end of 2006, over 200,000 improved household stoves of the Rocket Lorena type have been constructed in the Ugandan districts of Rakai and Bushenyi. The number of disseminated stoves illustrates very well that improved stoves effectively reach the poor. Due to the high acceptance of the stoves and the support of the local leadership, the dissemination rate reaches up to 90% in some villages and the demand is still high.
