Construction of Bio Digester for Rural Families in Uganda

In Uganda, many rural poor families lack access to electricity and are forced to cook their meals over open wood fires. About 85% of rural communities still cook using solid fuels (such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal and dung) and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves. This releases harmful pollutants into the air which can cause health problems such as stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer. Along with these health concerns, cooking over wood fires is also harmful to the environment. Sourcing the wood depletes local forest resources, while burning it releases high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Charcoal and firewood fuel biomass utilization is thought to be the main cause of deforestation in Uganda.

This project is providing biogas plants for families in rural Uganda. Once the family has a functional biodigestor, they will have access to their own gas for cooking, heating and lighting as well as the highly organic matter the digester produces for their farm.