Abstract
This study examines the impact of fuelwood dependence on rural households' participation in Uganda's labour market, an issue largely underexplored in both Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa, where fuelwood remains the primary domestic energy source. Using data from the 2019/20 Uganda National Household Survey and an instrumental variable probit model to address endogeneity concerns, the study finds that only 25.34 % of rural households engage in paid labour, significantly below Uganda's national average of 44 % and Africa's average of 63 %. Increased time spent collecting fuelwood reduces labour market participation, with a marginal effect decline of 0.8 %. However, regional variations emerge: in Northern and Western Uganda, fuelwood collection is associated with higher labour market participation, while in the Central region, it significantly reduces participation. Additionally, household income, access to improved cooking technologies, education level, and the age of the household head positively influence labour market engagement, whereas reliance on traditional cookstoves and health issues linked to fuelwood use hinder participation. To address these challenges, we recommend expanding access to clean energy technologies and energy-efficient cookstoves to reduce time spent on fuelwood collection and minimize health risks, thereby enhancing labour market participation. Additionally, scaling up agroforestry initiatives can support rural livelihoods, particularly in Northern and Western Uganda. Future studies can investigate the Gendered Impacts of Fuelwood Dependence on Labour Market Participation.
