Gender-based roles and energy transition in Ugandan households: Evidence from panel data analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Over 2.3 billion people worldwide use unclean fuels in the form of firewood, charcoal and coal for cooking. As a result, over 3.2 million people are reported to die annually due to household air pollution caused by smoke. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of gender role differentiation on household energy transition in Uganda. Methods Using panel data obtained from Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the study employed an ordered logit regression model to estimate the effect of gender role differentiation on household energy transition in Uganda. Findings and discussion: The findings indicated that ownership and control of financial resources by females reduced the likelihood of choosing traditional fuels but increased the likelihood of choosing transitional and modern fuels for cooking in households. Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that ownership and control of financial resources and buildings are drivers of household energy transition.