Stakeholders meet in Kampala to discuss strategies for accelerating the transition to clean cooking energy

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) convened a National Workshop on Bioethanol for Clean Cooking at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The workshop brought together stakeholders from the government, the private sector, and development partners to discuss bioethanol’s potential as a clean, affordable cooking fuel in Uganda.

Over 90 percent of households in Uganda use wood or charcoal for cooking. This workshop aimed to discuss strategies to address the pressing need for cleaner and more sustainable cooking solutions. Bioethanol, which is derived from renewable sources like sugarcane and agricultural residues, provides a viable alternative that reduces indoor air pollution, helps conserve forest resources, and mitigates the effects of climate change.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Dr. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, emphasized the government's commitment to expanding bioethanol’s role in clean cooking.

He said, “Bioethanol presents a great opportunity to address the affordability barriers for low-income households while offering a clean-burning, versatile fuel. Our goal is to scale bioethanol adoption to at least 500,000 households in the short- to medium-term, supporting our national efforts to achieve SDG 7—universal access to modern energy.”

The workshop also highlighted Uganda’s conducive environment for bioethanol production, from its fertile soils to active distilleries already operating in the sector. In line with this, Hon. Dr. Okaasai noted, “We have established an enabling policy environment, with zero tax on denatured ethanol and waiving Value Added Tax (VAT) on ethanol stoves. This will help drive affordability and adoption across Uganda.”

Speaking on behalf of FAO Uganda, Dr. Charles Owach, Assistant FAO Representative, reiterated FAO’s commitment to promoting sustainable bioenergy as part of the global clean energy agenda. He stated, “Bioethanol can diversify farmer incomes, increase local energy access, and help communities adapt to climate change. Through this workshop, we aim to create a joint agenda for action to scale the production and use of bioethanol for clean cooking in Uganda.”

The event, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) is part of FAO’s broader initiative to facilitate international dialogues on bioethanol for clean cooking in Africa and Asia.

H.E. William W. Popp, U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting Uganda’s transition to sustainable clean cooking solutions. He emphasized the 

critical need to tackle the energy challenges that many communities worldwide are experiencing, noting that over 2.5 billion people globally lack access to clean cooking facilities, and approximately 800 million people do not have access to electricity.

“In Uganda, the situation is particularly acute, with one of the lowest access rates to clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa. This workshop is an important step to improving access to and usage of clean cooking technology,” said Ambassador Popp.

Ambassador Popp also commended the ongoing partnership with FAO and the Ministry of Energy to advance Uganda's biofuels value chain.

As part of the discussions, stakeholders identified the key challenges facing the bioethanol sector, including limited infrastructure, seasonality of feedstock, and the need for greater financing mechanisms.

FAO remains committed to supporting Uganda’s journey toward sustainable bioenergy solutions and clean cooking technologies that benefit both the environment and the livelihoods of its people.