Briquette Making Wastprenuers in Gulu municipality, Uganda – URCS Gulu Branch Skybird Micro Project

 Written by: Lucy Anek, Branch Manager at Uganda Red Cross Society Gulu Branch | Jan 31, 2024

In order to alleviate the problem of poor waste management in highly populated, poor and congested settlements in Gulu city in Uganda, Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) Gulu Branch through the Skybird project implemented Urban WASH project by establishing briquette making waste management entrepreneurs (Wastprenuers) and providing practical trainings as well as supplying the groups with briquette making machines and tricycles for garbage collection.

Implementation

URCS Gulu Branch Skybird Cycle 1 Micro Project is entitled “Urban WASH for improved living conditions in Gulu municipality, Uganda”.  One component of the micro project was Briquette Making waste management where two wastprenuer groups, each consisting of 25 members, were established in briquette making. Supports provided to the groups include:

• Training in briquette making and business skills
• Provision of two briquette making machines for the groups
• Provision of two tricycles for transportation of raw materials and briquettes to the market
• Two temporary shelters built for drying and storage

Processing briquettes

The groups use the following ingredients to produce up to 100 pcs of briquettes.

• 2 cups of grounded Clay soil (smooth).
• ¼ kg of Cassava Flour – making it into porridge.
• 1 basin full of Charcoal dust or Burnt leaves and rubbish.
• 4 litres of warm water.

Impacts

• Power of earning money and savings.
• Registered with Division HQ.
• Marketing and sales of the briquette.
• Coopting of members (youth).

Key lessons learnt

• Community involvement – sense of ownership and empowerment.
• Environmental awareness – recycling of waste that would otherwise be un-used, reduces on cutting down of trees.
• Potential for income generating activities.
• It has built the capacity of the local community in terms of knowledge and skills.
• Innovation and adaptability – improve on the briquette making process.

Challenges and how they handle it