Parliament has suspended the enforcement of a ban on charcoal trade in parts of the country until the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development presents a statement explaining the government’s progress in promoting affordable alternative energy sources.
The directive followed concerns that enforcing the ban without providing accessible alternatives would place an additional burden on households that depend on charcoal and firewood for cooking.
The ban stems from Presidential Executive Order No. 3, issued on May 19, 2023, which prohibits charcoal burning and trade in West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and the Teso sub-region.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth issued the directive while chairing a plenary sitting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, ordering a temporary suspension of enforcement until the government reports back to the House.
“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,” Oboth said.
He added that enforcement should be suspended in the meantime, stressing that his decision was not an endorsement of charcoal use but a recognition of the practical difficulties enforcement agencies could face.
“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,” he said.
Concerns over access to alternative energy
The directive followed concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, who said the announcement of the ban’s enforcement had caused widespread public alarm.
Ssenyonyi questioned whether the government had done enough to ensure that ordinary Ugandans could access affordable alternatives before imposing restrictions on charcoal use.
Citing a 2024 survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), he noted that between 87 and 94 per cent of Ugandans rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking.
“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 asked.
He also questioned the effectiveness of government efforts to promote liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), estimating that uptake among the population stood at just two per cent.
Ssenyonyi argued that providing households with free gas cylinder kits was not enough if many could not afford subsequent refills.
Hon. Cohen Amanya (NRM, Igara County West) also questioned the legal basis for the ban, calling for the suspension of enforcement until Parliament enacted a law governing the matter.
“In the meantime, let the status quo be maintained until the minister comes with a statement,” Amanya said.
Government promotes clean cooking alternatives
Responding to the concerns, the Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Hon. Phiona Nyamutooro, said the government was promoting several alternative cooking technologies, including LPG, electric cooking, ethanol and biogas.
She said the government had introduced a special electricity tariff for cooking to encourage households to adopt electric cooking solutions.
Nyamutooro also pointed to opportunities for expanding access to LPG through Uganda’s oil and gas sector, saying the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects were expected to produce liquefied petroleum gas.
“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 access to clean gas,” she said.
The minister added that the ministry continued to distribute free LPG cylinders and accessories to encourage households to switch to cleaner cooking fuels.
She said the ministry’s Clean Cooking Unit was also conducting public awareness campaigns to address concerns about gas safety and cultural barriers that could hinder adoption.
Government proposes phased implementation
Government Chief Whip Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng said implementing the ban required coordination among several government agencies and could not be achieved through an abrupt nationwide crackdown.
She said the government would engage the relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, through the office of the Leader of Government Business to develop a phased approach.
“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 address it step by step,” Aceng said.
The suspension gives the government an opportunity to explain its progress in expanding access to clean cooking technologies while addressing concerns about the affordability of alternatives for households that depend on charcoal and firewood.
Parliament is expected to receive the minister’s statement on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, before determining the way forward on enforcement of the ban.
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