Biogas Production from Organic Solid Wastes in Kampala City, Uganda

ABSTRACT Biogas refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal materials, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into biogas. The main objective of the study was to find out how biogas production process is well known by the local communities in Kampala, Uganda. The specific objectives were to find out the potential organic solid wastes used for biogas production, establish the benefits of using biogas as an alternative energy source, examine the factors affecting biogas generation from organic solid waste and also investigate the relationship between organic solid waste generation and biogas production. The methods used in the study are purposive and snowball sampling. The data collection instruments were the structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists software. The Pearson’s chi-square was used to analyze the hypothesis “the relationship between the generation of organic solid wastes and biogas production.” The study found out that the most commonly used types or potential of organic solid waste for the production of biogas are animal wastes, followed by household wastes, crop residues and industrial waste at lowest level. The benefits of biogas production are: it saves time for women and children, it provides a low cost energy source, it is also a clean fuel, further reduces deforestation and forest encroachment, produces an effluent called bio-slurry which is an excellent organic fertilizer, and finally it reduces air and water pollution in that it does not emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. The most common factors affecting the production of biogas are: the high initial investment costs, a relatively high degree of maintenance efforts, the storage and disposal of the bio-slurry, high cost of collecting wastes, and finally the water supply which should be good and constant within reach for the digester~ There is a very weak relationship between the factors affecting biogas production and organic solid wastes generated hence the hypothesis was accepted.The study recommended that a comprehensive biogas policy should be developed containing well stipulated regulatory standards and quality control must be enacted by the government, low cost biogas plants and building materials should be subsidized by the government for easy adoption, demonstration sites should also be set, people must be instructed to construct biogas plants where there is a nearby and reliable water source for ensuring constant water supply for the digestion chamber to function effectively. Also the local community’s participation in different organic solid waste collection systems, storage and decision-making should be a priority, pilot fuel cells projects should be established, educates institutions and individuals of the potential of organic solid waste, and further increase the rate of creating awareness about biogas potential production from organic solid waste.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

DECLARATION

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iv

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES viii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ix

ABSTRACT x

Chapter One: Interdictbn 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.1.1 History of biogas in Uganda 3

1.1.2 Benefits of biogas 4

1.1.3 Cost for building bio digesters 4

1.2 Statement of the problem 4

1.3 Research Objectives 6

1.3.1 General objective 6

1.3.2 Specific objectives 6

1.4 Research questions 6

1.5 Hypothesis 6

1.6 Scope of the study 7

1.7 Significance of the study 7

1.8 Operational definitions of key terms 8

Chapter Two: Review of rellated Nterature 9

2.1 Concept of biogas 9

2.2 Theoretical perspectives 9

2.2.1 Potential organic solid wastes used for biogas production. 10

iv

2.2.2 Establish the benefit of using biogas as an alternatives 15

2.3 Related studies 17

2.3.1 Biogas in Kenya 17

2.3.2 Tanzania domestic biogas programme 17

2.3.3 Biogas success worldwide 20

2.3.4 The factors affecting biogas generation from organic solid waste2l

2.3.5 The relationship between organic solid waste generating and biogas

production 22

Chapter Three: METHODOLGY 27

3.1 Introduction 27

3.2 Research design 29

3.2.1 Research population 30

3.2.2 Sample size 30

3.2.3 Research instrument 32

3.3 Data analysis 33

3.4 Ethical considerations 34

3.5 Limitations of the study 34

Chapter Four: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 35

4.1 Introduction 35

4.2 Demographic characteristics of the respondents 35

4.3 The potential of organic solid wastes used for biogas production37

4.4 The benefits of using biogas as an alternatives energy sources 38

4.5 The factors affecting production of biogas from organic solid

Waste 40

4.6 The relationship between organic solid wastes generating and biogas

production 42

Chapter Five: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45

5.1 Introduction 45

5.2 Summary of the findings 45

5.3 Conclusions 46

5.4 Recommendation 47

5.5 Further research 48

REFERENCES 50

APPENDICES 56

Appendices I: TRANSMITTAL LETTER 56

Appendices II: RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS 57

Appendices III: RESEARCHERTS CURRICULUM VITAE 62