Browsing by Author "Mbazalire,Ezekiel"

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    Experiences with Green Charcoal: A Gender Consideration of Rural and Urban Households in Gulu District
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2024-11-03) Okello,Simon; Alidri Agatha; Mbazalire,Ezekiel; Aoyo Christine; Atube Francis; Okello,COllins; Okumu Charles Nelson
    The study focused on the use of green charcoal, a sustainable cooking fuel made from agricultural residues, in Gulu District, to highlight the experiences households have encountered, from a gender perspective. The study followed a cross-sectional design using qualitative approach which included the use of one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and ethnographic observations for data collection. The findings show that households in Gulu District use acombination of cooking fuels such as firewood, wood charcoal, green charcoal, or gas. Furthermore, the study established that there were cases where both men and women had shared experiences in cooking, for example, knowledge of the faster cooking rate, cleanliness, and much ash content involved while using green charcoal. However, to a larger extent, there were gendered differences in cooking activities: while women predominantly handle cooking, men often influence decisions about what and how to cook, revealing underlying gender and power dynamics within households. Key findings indicate that green charcoal is favored for its affordability relative to traditional black charcoal, prolonged burn time, and higher heat output, though it is also harder to light and produces more ash. It is particularly popular in rural Owoo Sub-County, where residents are more involved in its production compared to their urban counterparts in Gulu City. The study concluded that positive experiences with green charcoal have facilitated its adoption and recommendsfurther actions to promote its use. These include increasing awareness of its environmental, health, and financial benefits, improving product quality, and involving women and girls as advocates to expand its utilization.
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    Historizing Gender in Household Production and Use of Cooking Fuels in Amuru District, Northern Uganda
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2025-08-22) Mbazalire,Ezekiel; Alidri,Agatha; Okello,Simon; Aoyo,Christine; Atube,Francis; Okello,Collins; Mogensen, hanne Overgoard; Okumu, Charles Nelson
    This study examined the gendered historical production and use of cooking fuels in Amuru District in Northern Uganda, focusing on household gender involvement, specialisation, and division of labour in cooking. The availability and accessibility of cooking fuels significantly affect household energy security, health, power relations, and gender dynamics (Bamwesigye et al., 2020). This study used a qualitative approach and historical research designs. The methods of data collection used were participatory rural approach (PRA), focus group discussions, participant observation (ethnography), document analysis, and one-on-one individualinterviews. Respondents included the elderly, young women, young men, and children. The major findings revealed that the primary cooking fuels used in these rural communities included firewood, black charcoal, crop residues, and kerosene. Gender plays a crucial role in producing and using cooking fuels, with women predominantly responsible for collectingfirewood and other biomass resources. This gendered division of labour has implications for women's time burden, health, and overall well-being. The study concluded by identifying challenges faced by rural communities in accessing clean and sustainable cooking fuels. The reliance on traditional biomass fuels contributes to deforestation, indoor air pollution, and adverse health effects. This study recommends the involvement of women in decision-making processes related to household production and the use of cooking fuels, including planning, implementation, and monitoring. This will ensure that their needs and perspectives are taken into account, provide training and capacity-building opportunities to women on sustainable charcoal production techniques, efficient stove use, and environmental conservation practices. This will empower women to participate more actively in the green charcoal value chain and address gender-based barriers by ensuring women have equal access to land, finances, technology, and other necessary resources for green charcoal production. This can be achieved through targeted policies and programs.