Abstract:

Uganda features a high deforestation rate of about 2.2% (Nampewo, 2013) and heavily
depends on biomass (over 90%) as energy source (MEMD, 2009). Petroleum which is
currently imported accounts for 6% of Uganda’s energy consumption (REA, 2011) and the
recent discovered oil is expected to last less than 30years (Okupa, 2012). Urban and rural
dwellers use predominantly metal charcoal stoves and traditional three-stone stoves,
respectively, at efficiency less than 10% (Okello et al., 2013). This puts Uganda’s forests and
its growing population (3.32%/year) under tremendous pressure. Therefore adoption of
improved biomass cook stoves and use of bio-fuels such as Jatropha oil (Jatropha curcas)
and castor oil (Ricinus communis) could conserve energy and reduce environmental
degradation.
Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis as energy crops have been found to have the
potential for biodiesel production elsewhere (Bonjean & Le-Recin, 2002; Okullo et al., 2012).
These two energy crops have however not been evaluated in Uganda. Jatropha curcas has
rapidly established a niche for itself within the agriculture and energy industry in Uganda,
though the current production is not well understood. The private sector entrepreneurs are
establishing Jatropha plantations in Karamoja and Masindi sub-regions but with no scientific
production information in support of the business enterprise. Ricinus comminis is also
increasingly being promoted for biodiesel due to its high oil yield and relatively low water
requirements like Jatopha. Castor has many industrial, medicinal, and automotive uses,
including: aircraft lubricants, hydraulic fluids, explosives, dyes nylon and many others
(Bonjean & Le-Recin, 2002). Castor and Jatropha biofuel crops are perceived as not
competing with food production because they are inedible (which makes them suitable for
pesticides) and can be grown on marginal lands and thrives in waste lands as a potential
contribution to the rehabilitation of degraded land (Fitzgerald, 2007). It is therefore,
important to understand yield seed provenances, their general agronomic performance, oil
quality and quantity and product usage from the bio-materials and plan for their
detoxification.