The Role Of Biogas Use In Promoting Environment Conservation In Bukanga Sub County, Isingiro District, Uganda

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of biogas use on environmental

conservation. The specific objectives were to examine the different types of

fuels/energies used in developing countries, find out the benefits of using biogas over

other fuels in developing countries and investigate the relationship between biogas use

and environmental conservation. 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, prtduces 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. 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.