Buganda Subjects Urged to Embrace Biogas for Health, Environmental and Economic Benefits

What the report says

Buganda Kingdom leaders are encouraging households and communities to adopt biogas as a cleaner cooking fuel, saying it could improve health, ease pressure on forests and open up small business opportunities. According to Nile Post, the appeal was made during a training workshop for youth from different counties of Buganda held at Bulange, where participants were being prepared to sensitise communities about biogas use.

The message was delivered by the Chairperson of the BUCADEF Board, Dr Ben Muyinza Ssekamatte, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Hajji Amisi Kakomo. Kakomo said biogas can reduce reliance on firewood, which in turn may help slow deforestation and limit exposure to smoke that can harm the lungs. He also framed biogas as a source of income for people involved in installing and promoting the systems.

Isaac Banadda Nswa of Ecosafe Energy Ltd, which led the training, said the effort is aimed at encouraging wider use of biogas by showing how waste can be turned into useful energy. He said youth involvement is important because they can help explain the technology within their communities.

The report also noted concerns raised by trainees, including poverty, the cost of installation, mistrust of promoters, and fears about safety. Those issues, along with the need for more public education, were presented as key barriers to broader adoption of biogas in Buganda.