Abstract
The level of development of a society can be measured not only in terms of quantity of goods and services but also from the energy consumed. The importance of energy security derives from the critical role that it plays in all aspects of livelihoods of any society. The Government of Uganda is committed to well-planned urbanization and effective management of urban growth. This brings issues of low income settlements to the forefront of the national development agenda under one umbrella, but the provision of energy services to meet demand in low income settlements remains a critical challenge. Low income settlements in the four urban areas in Uganda were identified and a survey of energy demand patterns was conducted. This paper adopts ordered logistic regression modelling integrated with factor analysis (principal components analysis) to explore: 1) the relative importance of variable factors in determining household energy utilization, and 2) how they shape adaptation to energy insecurity within and across low-income settlements in selected urban centres in Uganda. Results indicate that, although charcoal use is uniform across all households, a large percentage of the slum population is heavily dependent for its energy services on multiple energy sources. Furthermore, households are burdened with relatively high retail prices for energy, electricity instabilities and wood shortages and wasteful/inefficient energy use. The logistic model indicates that household size, the share of adults in the household and gender in combination explain the utilization of firewood and electricity. Furthermore, adaptation strategies to energy insecurity coalesce around self-generation and use of improved energy technologies, adjustments in cooking practices and energy substitutions, and adjustments in sleeping schedules. Urban areas in Uganda are the residences of the future and efforts aimed at building energy security are very important.
Highlights
Energy is crucial to a functioning society (Walekhwa, Mugisha, & Lars, 2009)
It was found that charcoal (34.9%) was the dominant energy source for cooking followed by kerosene (25.0%) and fuel wood (20.6%) (Figure 2). These results are consistent with MEMD & UBOS (2014); Menya et al (2013); Ngaira & Omwayi (2012) and WFP et al (2009) observations that charcoal is the most popular and predominant source of energy used in urban settings; where, for example, between 200,000 and 230,000 tonnes was reported for the Kampala City (Knöpfle, 2004)
Preference for wood and charcoal may be derived from tradition, the taste of food cooked in this way, reliability of supply and ease of transport and storage
Summary
Energy is crucial to a functioning society (Walekhwa, Mugisha, & Lars, 2009). It is critical to enhancing production, competitiveness and incomes (World Bank, 2007a) through its support to productive activities and facilitation of investments in industry, commerce and agriculture (World Bank, 2007a; OAG, 2011). Its availability has direct poverty impacts and is an important determinant of the quality of life in human settlements (Buchholz & Da Silva, 2010; World Bank, 2003). Access to modern forms of energy is essential to overcome poverty, promote economic growth and employment opportunities, support the provision of social services, and, in general, promote sustainable human development (Karekezi, McDade, & Kimani, 2012). The importance of energy in Uganda is further illustrated in the National Development Plan 2010/11-2014/15 where it is identified as one of the eight primary growth sectors in the country. Biomass dominated by fuel wood and charcoal accounts for more than 93 percent of Uganda’s primary energy supplies, while imported fossil fuels and hydropower electricity supply only six and one percent, respectively (Banaabe, 2012; Zanchi, Frieden, Pucker, Bird, Buchholz, & Windhorst, 2012).
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