The government has launched a fresh push for Ugandans to abandon charcoal and firewood in favour of electric cooking, saying the transition is critical to protecting lives, the environment and Uganda's climate commitments.
Minister of State for Energy Sidronius Okaasai told Parliament's Climate Change Committee on Thursday that Uganda's continued dependence on biomass remains one of the biggest obstacles to the country's transition to cleaner energy.
“The policy of the ministry is to move our population from that dirty energy which they use for cooking,” Okaasai said.
The minister said charcoal and firewood not only contribute to environmental degradation but also expose households to health risks, particularly women and children who spend more time around cooking areas.
Government Says Electricity Can Be Cheaper
Okaasai said government is encouraging households connected to the national grid to switch to electricity, pointing to the special cooking tariff as an affordable alternative.
“There is a tariff for cooking. It is the lowest, lowest tariff that we have,” he told MPs.
The campaign is also being extended to public institutions such as schools, many of which still depend heavily on firewood for cooking.
“We are actually pushing them to leave the biomass and go back to using electricity,” Okaasai said.
Government wants the clean-energy transition to go beyond kitchens, with plans to promote electric vehicles and reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.
“We must adopt low-carbon release vehicles,” he said, adding, “And then moving from now the diesel, petrol vehicles to e-mobility.”
Uganda Needs $28.1B for Climate Commitments
The Ministry revealed that Uganda requires approximately $28.1 billion to implement its climate commitments.
Officials told MPs that the biggest challenge is no longer developing policies but finding the money required to put them into action.
Dr Brian Isabirye, Commissioner in the Energy Resources Department, said Uganda already has several policies and laws supporting the transition, including the Energy Policy 2023, Climate Change Act 2026 and Energy Transition Plan.
However, he said financing remains a major hurdle, particularly because much of the required funding is expected to come from international climate finance.
Renewable Energy Faces Grid Challenge
The ministry also warned that Uganda's ability to expand solar and wind energy will increasingly depend on strengthening the national electricity grid.
Officials said the country has sufficient renewable energy resources, but the transmission network currently limits how much new generation can be integrated.
Government is therefore considering measures including battery storage, stronger transmission infrastructure, improved forecasting, demand response and smart charging.
MPs Question Oil Plans
Climate Change Committee Chair Aggrey Bagiire welcomed efforts to promote clean energy but questioned how Uganda intends to reconcile its climate commitments with its plans to produce oil.
“We are going to produce our oil, but talking about electric cars, how are you going to balance that since we are saying the carbon fuels are a greenhouse danger?” he asked.
Bagiire also questioned whether ordinary households can afford electric cooking appliances, despite the government's push for their wider adoption.
Other MPs raised concerns about electricity access and whether government programmes are delivering value for money, particularly in areas that remain off the national grid.
MP Benadette Chandia Kodili also called for tighter regulation of electric cooking appliances, warning that consumers need protection from substandard products.
Interestingly, Chandia said she was surprised to learn that cooking with electricity could be cheaper than traditional fuels—and revealed she plans to test the option herself.
With government now pushing electric cooking, Ugandans who have spent years relying on charcoal and firewood could soon be encouraged to make a major change in how they prepare their daily meals.