Uganda - Clean cooking with biogas

Biogas

The use of biogas improves living conditions and helps limit the effects of climate change. Biogas is a clean and renewable cooking fuel. Bio-slurry produced by a biogas digester is an excellent fertilizer and can help families and provide additional income.

In Uganda, 93% of households cook with firewood or charcoal. According to the 2024 census, 64.5% of households use firewood as their main cooking fuel and 28.2% use charcoal. More than 80% of households still cook on a traditional three-stone fire. Moreover, cooking with firewood contributes to deforestation.

Cooking with biogas is an ideal solution. Biogas is a clean and renewable cooking fuel. In Uganda, biogas is also used for lighting in areas without access to electricity. In addition, a biodigester produces bio-slurry, which is used to fertilize crops. Biogas is also a solution to reduce methane emissions from cow and pig manure.

The Uganda Biogas Programme is implemented by Biogas Solutions Uganda Ltd (BSUL). The program was initiated by Hivos under the umbrella of the Africa Biogas Partnership Programme, a partnership between the Dutch government, Hivos, and SNV. Hivos and SNV established and strengthened BSUL, which has now become a strong organization capable of implementing biogas projects. In 2021, Hivos also transferred the development and certification of carbon projects in East Africa to BSUL, in collaboration with Africa Bioenergy Programs Ltd in Kenya. In 2022, FairClimateFund took over from Hivos the sale of Gold Standard Carbon Credits generated by this project.

Factsheet 2025

National Plan of Clean Cooking Strategy

Ugandan Population & Housing Consensus

Photo Album Oeganda

Through its projects, FairClimateFund actively contributes to 5 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals serve as a global compass for sustainable development in social, environmental and economic terms.

No hunger

Bio-slurry improves soil fertility and increases crop yields.
Farmers become less dependent on expensive chemical fertilizers.
Higher agricultural yields contribute to more stable incomes and improved food security.

No hunger

Bio-slurry improves soil fertility and increases crop yields.

Farmers become less dependent on expensive chemical fertilizers.

Higher agricultural yields contribute to more stable incomes and improved food security.

Health

Biogas reduces harmful smoke inside homes and improves indoor air quality.
Less smoke exposure reduces health risks for women and children.
Cleaner cooking creates a safer and healthier living environment.

Health

Biogas reduces harmful smoke inside homes and improves indoor air quality.

Less smoke exposure reduces health risks for women and children.

Cleaner cooking creates a safer and healthier living environment.

Gender equality

Women save time because they no longer need to collect firewood.
The time saved creates opportunities for education, work, and entrepreneurship.
Women play an important role in the management and use of biogas installations.

Gender equality

Women save time because they no longer need to collect firewood.

The time saved creates opportunities for education, work, and entrepreneurship.

Women play an important role in the management and use of biogas installations.

Sustainable and affordable energy

Biogas provides a reliable, local, and renewable energy source.
Households become less dependent on firewood and fossil fuels.
Biogas is used for clean cooking and lighting in areas without access to electricity.

Sustainable and affordable energy

Biogas provides a reliable, local, and renewable energy source.

Households become less dependent on firewood and fossil fuels.

Biogas is used for clean cooking and lighting in areas without access to electricity.

Climate action

Biogas replaces firewood and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The digestion of manure prevents methane emissions.
Bio-slurry promotes sustainable agriculture and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers.

Climate action

Biogas replaces firewood and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The digestion of manure prevents methane emissions.

Bio-slurry promotes sustainable agriculture and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers.

Life on land

Reduced demand for firewood helps to prevent deforestation.
Bio-slurry improves soil quality and supports biodiversity.
Healthier soils make agriculture more resilient to climate change.

Life on land

Reduced demand for firewood helps to prevent deforestation.

Bio-slurry improves soil quality and supports biodiversity.

Healthier soils make agriculture more resilient to climate change.

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Households provided with
biogas installations,
of which 696 were installed in 2025.

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Biodigesters
repaired in 2025.

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Tonnes of CO2 reduced

he biogas project in Uganda demonstrates how clean energy and sustainable agriculture can reinforce each other. Households use manure from their livestock to produce biogas for clean cooking and lighting. The nutrient-rich bio-slurry that remains is used as a natural fertilizer. This creates a circular system that improves soil quality, increases agricultural productivity, and makes families less dependent on expensive fuels and chemical fertilizers.

An investment in this project helps enable, among other things, the following:

provide households with access to clean biogas cooking, significantly reducing indoor smoke;
support farmers in using bio-slurry to improve soil fertility and increase crop yields;
maintain and repair existing biodigesters, ensuring that installations continue to function for many years;
provide training for farmers and women on the sustainable use of biogas and climate-resilient agriculture;
reduce dependence on firewood, fossil fuels, and chemical fertilizers;
create additional income opportunities by strengthening households’ economic resilience through higher agricultural yields and lower production costs.