Briquettes are an alternative source of fuel that started gaining popularity in Uganda around 2010. They are composed of commonly found organic household wastes such as groundnut shells, banana peels, corn husks saw dust, and clay soil, compressed either by hand or machine into dense products that can be used instead of charcoal or firewood.
In Bungatira Sub-county, Gulu district, a small but ambitious
briquette business sprouted in 2022, holding great promise.
The 25-person group,
trained by Projects for the Restoration of Livelihoods in Northern Uganda,
PRELNOR, aimed to provide an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to
charcoal and ease the pressure on the region's dwindling forests.
Uganda has over the
past 25 years lost 63 percent of its forest cover to tree cutting mostly for firewood, timber, and
charcoal, according to the National Forestry Authority. A government survey in
2015 found that two-thirds of urban households use charcoal as their main
cooking fuel, with 40 percent of the supply coming from northern Uganda.
This high demand for charcoal has caused mass forest cover loss
and other vegetation, leading to longer dry seasons, prolonged drought, and
erratic rainfall. Vicky Ayugi, used to
belong to a group of 25 women who were trained in making briquettes. With the
rest of the group members, she thought their business would greatly contribute
to ending the booming charcoal trade.
The group, located in Layik Village in Agonga Parish in
Bungatira Sub-County, used charcoal dust and clay soil for making
their briquettes.
However, despite its
seeming benefits and the common good, the underwhelming demand for the
briquettes by the community made the businesses fold at the very beginning.
Ayugi explained that
the group was trained towards the beginning of 2022
produced a few briquettes that year, and abandoned the business immediately the
same year. She revealed that many
clients gave feedback that the briquettes need constant fanning to kindle the
embers, otherwise, they would die out.
Luo Audio
//Cue in: “Onongo
wayubu ento…
Cue out: …pe wayubu
maber?”//
Ayugi said following
the feedback, the demand became lower, and they abandoned the production of the
briquettes the same year when they had made less than a sack. She believes that
because briquettes were a relatively new innovation in the area, many were not
yet aware of it, while many were hesitant to try using it.
She said the group
members then decided to abandon the
business and venture into other
income-generating activities.
//Cue in: “Kidong dano
pud…
Cue out: …keto cwinygi iye.”//
Vincent Oluba, the
chairperson of another briquette-making group in Laroo-Pece Division, Gulu
City, said their machine was spoilt in May 2024 and they are
yet to repair it.
Oluba explained that
the project supported by PRENLOR at the beginning was intended
for the entire village, but only 200 people were consistent.
The machine broke down when the
group had only made production for one year, and they had not generated
enough profits to meet all operation costs, including the repair of the machine, which
he estimates will cost Shs 200,000.
He said the group is
currently lobbying for funds from the mayor of Pece-Laroo and other
organizations to support its repair.
Oluba believes the briquettes is
a great alternative to charcoal and firewood, because it
is produced from waste products, hence, saving the
environment from pollution and degradation.
Luo Audio
//Cue in: Watye ka coyo…
Cue out: …bene watye
ka tutte.”//
Kevin Amono used
briquettes only once and abandoned them because of their cost and scarcity. According to Amono,
charcoal is found in every corner, which saves time, unlike the briquettes
which were sold in specific locations.
//Cue in: “Aweko tic
kwede…
Cue out: …mere madwong
ata.”//
Bob Alberto Ogen, the
General Manager of West Acholi Cooperative Union, once led a group of women who
made briquettes using factory waste. However, just like the others, the
business did not last long. Ogen argued that the
business could not match the demand for charcoal and also it was produced on a low scale, and many
wondered where they would get more if they started using it consistently.
//Cue in: “I think
the…
Cue out: …and all
seasons.”//
Ogen advised that
because briquettes were new, there was a need to do mass sensitization about it
for the community to make sense of it.
Harriet Acola, who
trained the group in Bungatira to establish the briquette machine, said although the
briquette is easy to kindle and produces enough heat, one cannot reuse the remains
like with charcoal, which makes many consider it a waste.
Acola, however, said
she would be using them if they were readily available. According to
Acola, the maker of briquettes is inconsistent, which makes it
challenging for users to restock.
//Cue in: “I don’t use…
Cue out: …become so
challenging.”//
Acola advises the
community to embrace the use of briquettes because they require only minimal parts
of a tree to make, hence,
saving the trees and the environment.
//Cue in: “I would
advise…
Cue out: …down for
charcoal.”//
Briquettes are an alternative source of fuel that started
gaining popularity in Uganda around 2010. They are composed of
commonly found organic household wastes such as groundnut shells, banana peels,
corn husks saw dust, and clay soil, compressed either by
hand or machine into dense products that can
be used instead of charcoal or firewood.
Its introduction to Uganda was met with enthusiasm from both households and institutions. Several homes and institutions thought it would
help them reduce their fuel costs quickly because it burns longer and
produces less smoke than regular charcoal and firewood.
