Uganda: Speaker halts charcoal trade ban pending Govt statement

Parliament has moved to halt the ban on charcoal trade in the country, until the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development presents a statement to the House on the issue as well as on the uptake of alternative energy sources.

The enforcement of the ban follows a Presidential Executive Order No. 3 issued on 19 May 2023, which bans charcoal burning and trade in West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and Teso sub-Region.

The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth issued the directive while chairing a plenary sitting on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

“Government should come next Wednesday and update us on this ban, and tell us the extent of the performance by the ministry in promoting alternative energy sources,” he said adding that “For between now and Wednesday, let us first suspend the enforcement. I do that not because I support charcoal, but because I am aware of how difficult it is going to be for the enforcers.”

The directive follows concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, who said that the pronouncement on enforcement of the ban had caused a lot of public alarm.

He alluded to a 2024 survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) which indicated that 87 per cent to 94 per cent of Ugandans use charcoal and firewood.

“How aggressively are we making it possible for ordinary persons to access alternative sources of energy? This directive was issued three years ago, but what has government done to avail these alternatives cheaply to Ugandans before we can heavily crack the whip? Ssenyonyi said.

Hon. Cohen Amanya (NRM, Igara County West), questioned the legality of the ban and called for the suspension to remain in place until a law is enacted.

"In the meantime, let the status quo be maintained until the minister comes with a statement," Amanya said.

The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Hon. Phiona Nyamutooro, said the Ministry is promoting alternative energy sources including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric cooking, ethanol and biogas.

She added that government instituted a specific tariff for cooking to support adoption of using electricity.

“As part of oil and gas production, LPG will be produced from both Tilenga and Kingfisher projects. We hope that this will help in improving the access to clean gas,” she said highlighting that the Ministry continues to distribute free LPG cylinders and accessories to stimulate the use of gas as an alternative energy source.

She added that the Clean Cooking Unit of the Ministry continues to sensitize the public in regard to perceptions around safety of gas and cultural barriers.

Ssenyonyi, however, challenged the impact of the uptake of the use of LPG among the public, putting at two per cent, and adding that many individuals cannot afford gas refills despite the free cylinder kitties.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng said the proposal involves several government agencies, noting that it will be approached in a phased manner.

“We cannot stop it outright, so we will have dialogue through the office of the Leader of Government Business with Ministry of Energy, to map a way forward to addressed it step by step,” Aceng added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.