Abstract:

Although the discovery of biogas dates back to (he 18"* century, it was only in the early 1900s that the
technology obtained sonic use in real life situations. In Uganda the first biogas plant was built in Mbarara
district in (he early 1950s. However, the first well-documented study on biogas technology was a PhD thesis
by Boshoff (1970), then Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Makerere University.
During the years that followed, world-wide threats of dwindling fossil fuel resources stimulated efforts to
develop new and renewable energy resources including biogas technology. Uganda joined other countries in
these efforts but drastically lost pace during years of civil strife. This paper briefly outlines developments in
biogas technology with special focus on Uganda. It describes efforts NARO/AEATRI has made in the
development of a floating gas-holder digester type, fixed half-dome type and a tubular digester type. The
first hvo digester-types generate 0.20-0.25 m3 of gas per m3 of digester per day at optimal production./VEATRI
has also developed several designs of biogas stoves that operate at a pressure of 50-75 mm of water consuming
0.15-0.2 m3 of gas per hr. The effluent (slurry) from AEATRI digesters has been chemically analysed for soil
enhancement nutrients. The results show a significant increase in major nutrients: nitrogen ? 18%,
phosphorus - 24%, and potassium - 66%. The paper proposes a policy framework for integrated promotion
of this technology with a view to making its contribution more responsive to agricultural modernisation in
Uganda.