Overview

47 Million+ (98.2%)

Population without access to clean cooking (Source: WB, 2023)

10+

Active clean cooking ventures (Source: CCA)

7+

Number of clean cooking RBFs (Source: CCA)

Click “Read More” for a detailed overview

Uganda’s clean cooking sector is characterized by a gradual transition from traditional biomass fuels like firewood and charcoal to more efficient, healthier, and environmentally sustainable cooking technologies and fuels. Despite the dominance of biomass, used by about 87% of households, with 73% using firewood and 21% charcoal, there is growing government and international support to scale up clean cooking solutions such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electricity, biogas, ethanol, improved cookstoves, solar cooking, pellets, and briquettes (UNACC).

Adoption of clean cooking technologies remains low, with only about 3.8% of households using clean solutions as of 2024, up from 0.6% in 2023, and roughly 10% of the population adopting clean cooking energy overall(eni).

The Ugandan government has set ambitious targets to achieve 50% clean cooking access by 2030, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) for universal access to modern energy.

Uganda’s clean cooking sector is evolving with strong policy support, international funding, and innovative programs. However, overcoming affordability, infrastructure, and cultural barriers remains critical to accelerating adoption and achieving national clean cooking targets by 2030

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Supply
Demand

According to World Bank data, 1.8% of the population had access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in 2023, a drop from the 1.6% who had access in 2022. In 2023, 3.7% of the urban population had access to clean cooking fuels, compared with just 0.8% of the rural population.

Compared with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, access to electricity in Uganda is relatively higher; 51.5% of the population had access in 2023, up from 47.1% in 2022.

Click ‘Read more’ to explore data from World Bank.

Clean Cooking and Electricity Access for Uganda

Created from: World Development Indicators | DataBank

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Policy

Click ‘Read more’ to explore relevant aspects of Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions and other current policies that are relevant to clean cooking.

Nationally Determined Contributions

Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) reflects strong commitments to scaling clean cooking as part of its broader climate and development agenda. In its updated 2021 NDC, Uganda commits to an economy-wide emissions reduction target of 24.7% by 2030, with clean cooking interventions projected to contribute approximately 14.75 MtCO₂e in emissions savings. The country aims to increase the proportion of households using clean and efficient cooking technologies to 10% by 2025 and further to 65% by 2030, with electric cooking expected to account for 50% of this target.

These goals are aligned with Uganda’s Third National Development Plan (NDP III) and the 2023 Energy Policy, which seek to reduce reliance on biomass—from the current 88–89%—to about 50% by 2025. To support these commitments, Uganda is developing an Integrated National Clean Cooking Strategy, backed by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and UNEP. This strategy outlines pathways for transitioning to LPG, electric cooking, ethanol, biomass, and biogas, and includes frameworks for robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), as well as the development of regulatory standards.

Uganda is also advancing its clean cooking agenda through fiscal incentives such as VAT exemptions and import duty waivers on clean cooking appliances and fuels. At COP28, the government announced plans to raise electric cooking adoption from less than 1% currently to 38% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. These efforts are supported by climate finance mechanisms, including blended finance models and carbon credit-backed initiatives. Despite challenges such as affordability, limited rural electrification, and institutional capacity gaps, Uganda is positioning itself as a regional leader in clean cooking through coordinated policy, financing, and implementation efforts.

Source Uganda NDC

 

Tax and Tariff Data

This table shows Ugandan Duty and VAT for clean cooking items, as of 2025:

Regional Trade Areas Official designation HS Code Tax or tariff Quantity Notes
EAC, COMESA Electricity HS 2716 MFN import duty 0% Electricity may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Electricity HS 2716 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Electricity HS 2716 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Electricity HS 2716 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 MFN import duty 36%
EAC, COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value. Liquefied gas and denatured fuel ethanol from cassava is exempted from value added tax.
EAC, COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 100% Excise duty is levied at a rate of 100% of the duty paid value, but at least 2500 UGX/l on undenatured spirits made from imported raw materials. Undenatured spirits made from locally produced raw materials are liable to a rate of 60% of the duty paid value, but at least 1500 UGX/l. Ready to drink spirits are subject to a rate of 80% of the duty paid value, but at least 1700 UGX/l.
EAC, COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 % vol or higher HS 2207.10 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 MFN import duty 36%
EAC, COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 VAT 0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value. Liquefied gas and denatured fuel ethanol is exempted from value added tax.
EAC, COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 100% Excise duty is levied at a rate of 100% of the duty paid value, but at least 2500 UGX/l on undenatured spirits made from imported raw materials. Undenatured spirits made from locally produced raw materials are liable to a rate of 60% of the duty paid value, but at least 1500 UGX/l. Ready to drink spirits are subject to a rate of 80% of the duty paid value, but at least 1700 UGX/l.
EAC, COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength HS 2207.20 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Illuminating kerosene HS 2710.19.22 MFN import duty 0% Goods falling under this subheading are exempted from value added tax.
EAC, COMESA Illuminating kerosene HS 2710.19.22 VAT 200 UGX/l. Excise duty is levied at a rate of 200 UGX/l.
EAC, COMESA Illuminating kerosene HS 2710.19.22 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Illuminating kerosene HS 2710.19.22 Other taxes and tariffs 6.0% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 MFN import duty 0% Propane may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Propane HS 2711.12 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 MFN import duty 0% Butane may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Butane HS 2711.13 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied HS 2711.19 MFN import duty 0% Butane may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied HS 2711.19 VAT 0% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value. Liquefied gas and denatured fuel ethanol is exempted from value added tax.
EAC, COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied HS 2711.19 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons — Liquefied HS 2711.19 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 MFN import duty 0% Fuelwood may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Fuelwood – Non-coniferous HS 4401.12 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 MFN import duty 0% Wood pellets may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Wood pellets HS 4401.31 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 MFN import duty 0% Wood Briquettes may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Wood briquettes HS 4401.32 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 MFN import duty 0% Wood waste briquettes may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Sawdust and wood waste and scrap, agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms – other HS 4401.39 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 MFN import duty 0% Wood charcoal may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, other wood HS 4402.90 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 MFN import duty 0% Bamboo charcoal may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of bamboo HS 4402.10 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 MFN import duty 0% Shell or nut charcoal may be imported duty free
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Charcoal, of shell or nut HS 4402.20 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels HS 7321.11 MFN import duty 10%
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for gas fuel or gas + other fuels — Presented completely knocked down (CKD) or unassembled for the assembly industry. HS 7321.11 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 MFN import duty 10%
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, for liquid fuels — With a maximum of two burners HS 7321.12.10 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 MFN import duty 10%
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Cooking appliances and plate warmers, including for solid fuels HS 7321.19 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 MFN import duty 25.0%
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for gas or gas+ HS 7321.81 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 MFN import duty 25%
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for liquid fuels HS 7321.82 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 MFN import duty 10%
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers.
EAC, COMESA Other appliances — for solid fuels HS 7321.89 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 MFN import duty 10% Inputs for use in the manufacture of energy saving stoves are duty free.
EAC, COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 Other taxes and tariffs 50000 UGX per piece Environmental levy is levied at a rate of 50000 UGX per piece on cookers (not clear if this also applies to parts).
EAC, COMESA Parts for cooking appliances and plate warmers HS 7321.90 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Microwave ovens HS 8516.50 MFN import duty 10.0%
EAC, COMESA Microwave ovens HS 8516.50 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Microwave ovens HS 8516.50 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Microwave ovens HS 8516.50 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters HS 8516.60 MFN import duty 10% Unassembled cookers are duty free.
EAC, COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters HS 8516.60 VAT 18% Value added tax is levied at a rate of 18% of the duty paid value.
EAC, COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters HS 8516.60 Other taxes and tariffs 1.5% Infrastructure levy is levied at a rate of 1.5% of the dutiable value.
EAC, COMESA Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters HS 8516.60 Other taxes and tariffs 6% Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 6% of the dutiable value.

SOURCES:

Data Source Link to Source
Tariff Book EAC Common External Tariff
Tax summaries Uganda – Corporate – Other taxes
WHT for imports guide Withholding Tax in Uganda – A Comprehensive Guide
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Carbon

Uganda has 123 registered cookstove projects. These projects have generated 17 million carbon credits to date.

Click ‘Read more’ to explore more.

  • Total Credits Issued: 17,048,538
  • Total Credits Retired: 12,088,371
  • Number of Projects: 122 (114 GS + 9 VCS)
  • Number of Project Developers: 32

Source: Voluntary Registry Offsets Database (Berkeley Carbon Trading Project)

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Results Based Finance

Click ‘Read more’ to explore the table of Results Based Finance projects

Name Lead Status Dates Applicable Fuels Fund size for clean cooking Total fund size
HTCC-Higher-Tier Cooking Component GIZ in Partnership with CLASP Active 2023-2025 Electric, higher-tier biomass €1.5m (est) €5m (est)
EASP Off-Grid RBF UECCC(World Bank-funded) Active 2024-2027 Clean cooking, off-grid solar, productive use $3m+ $25m+
UECCC RBF Facility UECCC Active Ongoing Clean cooking Not specified Flexible, rolling basis
EnDev Uganda RBF GIZ-EnDev/PSFU Active Ongoing ICS+Solar+refugee energy N/A N/A
RECF Cooking Window UNCDF Completed 2017-2020 Briquettes, Ethanol, LPG $75K-150K $150K-225K
Clean Cooking Supply Chain Expansion SNV/EnDEv Completed 2016-2019 Improved biomass stoves N/A N/A
ACCES Distribution Challenge Fund ESMAP/AFTEG Active 2015-Ongoing ICS distribution scale up $6m $6m
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