Despite training programs provided by the Justice and Peace Commission-JPC, Nakere Rural Women Activists-NARWOA, and Mercy Corps among other NGO’s, beneficiaries report that the project is struggling to gain traction.
By Bondry Kilenga
Briquettes making initiative in Kotido district aimed at curbing deforestation is facing major setbacks, Etoil A Karamoja has learnt.
Despite training programs provided by the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), Nakere Rural Women Activists (NARWOA), and Mercy Corps among other NGO’s, beneficiaries report that the project is struggling to gain traction.
Local manufacturers, including Betty Napio, cite a lack of essential production materials and equipment, such as molds, as major operational barriers.
Furthermore, the initiative is battling deeply entrenched consumer habits as many locals prefer traditional charcoal and firewood to briquettes.
Beneficiaries argue that the lack of strict enforcement against charcoal production incentivizes residents to stick to environmentally harmful habits, as charcoal remains cheaper and more accessible.
Rose Chilla Namoe, head of the Star of Wisdom VSLA group, emphasized that without policy intervention to restrict charcoal use, the market for eco-friendly briquettes will remain stagnant.
Cue Namoe on briquette eng/nga
In response, Kotido District Forestry Officer Joel Okello Olal urged producers to continue making briquettes, pledging that local authorities would assist in identifying new markets.
Olal stressed the urgency of the transition, noting that adopting briquettes is vital for preserving the district’s vegetation cover and mitigating climate change.
Olal is optimistic that with better enforcement and public awareness, the shift toward sustainable energy will eventually take hold.
Cue 080502026 Olal on briquette eng
