environment 25 March 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Uganda Grapples with Charcoal Dependence Amid Forest Loss and Health Risks
Millions of Ugandans rely on charcoal for cooking, fueling an informal economy but driving massive forest destruction and health hazards from indoor pollution. Recent policy efforts and a national dialogue seek a balanced shift to cleaner energy without harming livelihoods. Source: https://observer.ug/news/can-uganda-balance-energy-needs-health-and-forest-conservation
In Kampala households, mornings often start with the sound of charcoal stoves igniting. This staple energy source sustains millions but poses a national challenge in shifting to sustainable options without widening poverty gaps.
The 2024 census reveals nearly half of urban homes use charcoal, surging over 70% in Kampala, while LPG and electricity remain unaffordable for most despite energy investments.
Charcoal powers a broad informal sector, from rural tree harvesters to city vendors, yet it claims 72,000 hectares of forest yearly. Over 20 years, forest cover has plummeted as consumption tripled, leading to ecosystem damage, erratic rains, and climate vulnerability.
Health impacts hit hard indoors, with pollutants like particulate matter and carbon monoxide endangering women and children most. Clean cooking could prevent up to 50,000 deaths by 2030, per experts.
Government actions include the 2023 Energy Policy, development plans, LPG subsidies, electric cooking tariffs, and improved stoves. A 2023 ban on commercial charcoal in northern regions highlighted risks of enforcement without alternatives, potentially spurring illegal trade.
Charcoal traders voice survival concerns: “I know it harms forests, but it’s how we eat.” A just transition demands livelihood support, training, and inclusive strategies.
Solutions encompass cheap clean tech, infrastructure growth, carbon funding, and income alternatives, alongside cultural shifts via awareness.
On March 17, 2026, Makerere University’s Economic Policy Research Centre hosted a dialogue with officials, researchers, businesses, and NGOs to overhaul supply chains and policies for sustainability.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)