By Dixon Aine
As the festive season approaches, the social environment buzzes with anticipation. Families stock up on essentials, kitchens come alive with holiday preparations, and fuel merchants gear up for one of the busiest periods of the year. However, with this flurry of activity comes a perennial challenge: the rising cost of cooking fuel.
According to a report on energy usage by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), charcoal is used by over 70 per cent of urban households in Uganda, and it sees dramatic price surges during Christmas. This increase, driven by soaring demand, significantly strains household budgets. But as the cost of charcoal climbs, the market for alternative cooking fuels, particularly eco-friendly briquettes, is beginning to gain traction.
Price dynamics
Charcoal prices in Uganda follow a predictable pattern during the festive season. Before Christmas, a 50-kilogram bag of charcoal costs between Shs 70,000 and 80,000, while During Christmas, prices escalate to Shs 80,000–120,000 due to increased demand. After Christmas, rates stabilise at around Shs 65,000–75,000.
This spike is a recurring issue, as most households are unwilling to compromise on their traditional cooking methods during the festive season. For rural families, firewood, largely free for those who collect it, remains the go-to option for communal meals and large-scale cooking like steaming matooke.
While alternatives such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and briquettes are slowly gaining popularity, their adoption is limited. According to Research studies conducted by Makerere University on alternative fuel adoption, LPG caters to less than 10 per cent of households, mostly among middle and upper-income families in urban areas, while briquettes are used by 5–10 per cent of the population.
Jane Namukasa, a mother of four from Wakiso District, says she relies heavily on charcoal for cooking traditional meals, especially during Christmas, when the demand for cooking fuel peaks.
“Before Christmas, a bag of charcoal costs me around Shs 80,000. However, as December approaches, prices begin to rise. By mid-December, the same bag of charcoal shots up to Shs100,000. During the Christmas week, it becomes unbearable, Shs 120,000 for a single bag.
The price increase is driven by high demand during the holidays when families host relatives and prepare special meals.
Namukasa adds: “This pattern happens every year, but it’s always stressful for families like mine. To make it through December, I try to use briquettes for lighter cooking, like boiling water and steaming vegetables. Briquettes are cheaper, costing Shs 50,000 per bag, and they burn longer, but they are not ideal for meals requiring high heat, like frying or roasting meat. We’ve also thought about switching to gas, but with the initial cost of a cylinder and the burner exceeding Shs 200,000, it’s too expensive for us to consider right now. Firewood is an option in rural areas, but it’s not practical for an urban home like ours.”
Briquettes as alternative
Among the alternatives, briquettes stand out for their affordability and environmental benefits. Made from compressed organic waste, they offer a cleaner, longer-lasting, and more sustainable fuel option. During the festive season, a 50-kilogram bag of briquettes costs Shs 50,000–70,000, making them a cheaper option than charcoal.
Despite the cost advantage and reduced smoke emissions, briquettes face challenges in penetrating the market. “Briquettes are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but many people are still hesitant to switch,” explains Amon Kiyimba, a leading producer of briquettes in Kampala. The reasons include lack of awareness and cultural attachment to traditional charcoal.
Challenges in scaling briquette production
For entrepreneurs like Kiyimba, the primary challenge is scaling production to meet demand. Producing briquettes is labour-intensive, and limited access to advanced equipment further constrains output. “We need carbonising machines. With better equipment, we could increase production and compete more effectively with charcoal and firewood,” Kiyimba says.
Additionally, market perception remains a barrier. Many Ugandans are unaware of the advantages of briquettes or are reluctant to invest in new cooking systems. Public education and targeted marketing could play a pivotal role in shifting consumer habits.
Kiyimba’s journey of making briquettes
As a former charcoal seller, Kiyimba was driven away by the environmental toll of the trade. Fortunately, when he joined Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) as a garbage collector, he recognised an opportunity. A friend introduced him to the idea of converting garbage into briquettes, sparking a journey of innovation.
Starting small, Kiyimba learned the basics of briquette production, using rudimentary tools to compress organic waste into fuel.
The Christmas season highlights both the challenges and opportunities in Uganda’s cooking fuel market. While traditional fuel like charcoal dominate, alternatives like briquettes are proving that sustainability and affordability can go hand in hand.
