Low awareness slows adoption of briquettes in Lira City

19 February 2026, 1:00 pm

By Oboke Micheal

Lira City Environment Officer Leonard Otika said that the city is partnering with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to promote smart cooking solutions, including briquettes, as a strategy to protect the environment.

However, he noted that 95% of residents in Lira City still rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking, placing heavy pressure on trees and contributing to widespread deforestation.

Most residents of Lira City continue to rely on charcoal and firewood as their main sources of cooking fuel, largely due to a lack of awareness about eco-friendly briquettes.

Ambrose Olima, proprietor of Shambie Packages in Teso Bar, Lira City West Division, which produces briquettes, said that adoption remains low in Lira City because of limited public sensitization.

He called for widespread awareness campaigns on the use of briquettes, emphasizing that they are environmentally friendly, affordable, and beneficial for both health and the environment.

Lira City Environment Officer Leonard Otika said that the city is partnering with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to promote smart cooking solutions, including briquettes, as a strategy to protect the environment.

However, he noted that 95% of residents in Lira City still rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking, placing heavy pressure on trees and contributing to widespread deforestation.

Otika added that the city is exploring partnerships with companies producing smart cooking stoves and briquettes to further educate the public on their use.

Briquettes are made from readily available materials such as maize cob residues, wood shavings, cassava flour, and soil.

By using briquettes, pressure on trees for charcoal and firewood is reduced, helping to conserve forests, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable cooking practices.

According to the 2024 national Housing and Population Census report released by Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 65 % of households in Uganda use firewood as their main cooking fuel and 28.2 % use charcoal, underscoring the heavy dependence on traditional biomass for cooking across the country.