The African Development Bank Group has approved $8.79 million in funding for the Uganda Biogas and Electric Cooking Project (UBEP), a wide-reaching effort to improve clean cooking access across the country and reduce dependence on traditional biomass fuels.
Currently, around 89 percent of Ugandans rely on unsustainable sources such as charcoal and firewood for cooking. This practice not only contributes to severe deforestation but also worsens indoor air pollution, with Uganda facing an estimated annual wood biomass deficit exceeding 100 million tonnes.
UBEP sets out to tackle this issue through a combination of strategies. The project will invest in biogas systems for public institutions and distribute electric cooking appliances to households in urban areas. Alongside this, public awareness campaigns will promote behavioural change, while training programmes for SMEs and technicians will help ensure long-term maintenance and sustainability.
“The Uganda Biogas and Electric Cooking Project is a major milestone to help reduce the estimated half a million early deaths of women and children across Africa annually due to pollution from open fires,” said the Bank’s Uganda Country Manager, Josephine Ngure.
Comprising four main components, UBEP stands as one of the African Development Bank’s largest public-sector initiatives in the clean cooking sector. Its key measures include the construction of 47 biogas plants to serve schools, markets, and farming communities, aiming to reduce charcoal and wood fuel use by up to 50 percent. Approximately 77,000 affordable electric cooking devices will also be distributed in Uganda’s main urban centres to encourage widespread adoption of cleaner methods.
The project will support the development of a reliable market for electric cooking by establishing appliance standards, repair and maintenance services, and efficient distribution networks. Capacity building efforts will be delivered through technical training and support to aid broader implementation.
“By promoting electric cooking methods, the Bank is supporting Uganda’s goal of achieving an 18 percent national eCooking adoption rate by 2030,” Ngure added.
UBEP is closely aligned with national development and environmental goals, including Uganda’s Vision 2040, Energy Transition Plan, and the country’s updated climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. It also complements the African Development Bank’s Uganda Country Strategy Paper for 2022–2026.
The majority of funding comes from the African Development Fund’s Climate Action Window, covering 64 percent of the total project cost. Additional backing is being provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Government of Uganda.
Across Africa, nearly one billion people still lack access to clean cooking solutions. In Uganda, UBEP is expected to reduce biomass reliance, improve indoor air quality, and limit deforestation. Over time, it will contribute to forest regeneration, improve water and soil conditions, and increase agricultural productivity thanks to the use of nutrient-rich by-products from biogas production.
The initiative also promotes gender equity by reducing the time women spend collecting firewood, thereby enabling greater access to education and economic opportunities. With its potential to deliver cleaner households, healthier communities, and environmental benefits, the Uganda Biogas and Electric Cooking Project represents a vital step towards a more sustainable and resilient future.