Sustainability of wood fuel on cooking: A case study of Uganda Prisons Service

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the sustainability of wood fuel on cooking in Uganda Prisons Service arising from the increasing number of inmates/prisoners being imprisoned in over 256 prisons facilities distributed throughout the country, and the meager annual financial budget allocations to run the institution. The study was conducted using the qualitative research design; and data was collected in the month of May-June, 2016 using interview, with the help of interview guide from the responsible officer at Prisons Headquarters, in consultation with officers in-charge of the eight sampled most populated units in Kampala Extra and Central Regions with the population of 10,062. The data was analyzed using tables and percentages in order to come up with the findings of the study. The study established three sources of energy used for cooking in the Service with wood fuel contributing to 82%, agricultural waste (maize cob) of 10% and electricity power contributing 8% of the total energy used for cooking. The cost of wood fuel was found to be 189,000,000/= in the study scope, representing 0.14% of the annual budget. Whereas the cost of alternative sources of energy amounted to over 2 billion shillings, much higher than the cost of wood fuel because of the high tariff charges and monopoly of the power supply company, UMEME. The study therefore, concludes that Uganda Prisons Service should embark on tree planting to supplement on natural wood energy used for cooking, for cost effectiveness and efficiency in running the annual budget without experiencing financial deficit arising from the more expensive alternative sources of energy for cooking. It further recommends that Uganda Prisons Service should invest in other alternative sources of energy apart from electricity such as agricultural waste, sugar molasses to generate cheaper energy for cooking. The Service in collaboration with other government agencies should work together to ensure that back log of cases in courts are expeditiously handled to reduce the number of people remanded in prisons