Clean cooking push at risk as charcoal use persists, says EPRC

Uganda's push toward cleaner cooking solutions faces significant headwinds as charcoal consumption remains stubbornly entrenched across both urban and rural populations, according to recent analysis from the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC). This divergence between policy ambition and ground-level reality presents both cautionary lessons and untapped opportunities for European investors eyeing East Africa's energy transition market. The Ugandan government has championed clean cooking initiatives as part of its broader climate commitments and health improvement agenda. Indoor air pollution from biomass burning—predominantly charcoal and firewood—represents one of the region's most significant public health challenges, contributing to respiratory diseases, premature deaths, and reduced productivity. Yet despite policy interventions, awareness campaigns, and regulatory frameworks designed to shift consumer behavior, charcoal consumption continues to dominate household energy choices, particularly among low-income populations in both urban settlements and rural areas. The EPRC's findings underscore a critical implementation gap in Uganda's energy transition strategy. While government rhetoric emphasizes cleaner alternatives such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric cookers, and improved biomass cookstoves, the actual adoption rates lag considerably. Several structural factors explain this disconnect. First, charcoal remains significantly cheaper than regulated clean energy alternatives, making it the rational choice for price-sensitive consumers. Second, the informal charcoal