The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Jacob Oboth, asked on Wednesday, 14 October, for enforcement of the charcoal trade ban to be suspended, pending government explanations on alternative cooking solutions. The directive was given in plenary session in Kampala, according to the official record.
The government is required to present its response on Wednesday, 21 October. The request for a pause concerns the enforcement of the presidential order of 19 May 2023, which bans charcoal production and trade in northern Uganda, West Nile, Karamoja and Teso. It does not announce the repeal of that order.
Jacob Oboth cited the practical difficulties of enforcement, following an intervention by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi. The latter questioned the financial affordability of replacement energy sources and the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refills, even when cylinders are provided free of charge.
The Ministry of Energy defended the promotion of LPG, electric cooking, ethanol and biogas before MPs. Its representative cited in particular a special electricity tariff for cooking and the distribution of gas cylinders and accessories to encourage their use.
Jane Ruth Aceng, the government majority's chief whip, said the transition required exchanges between several administrations. She defended a gradual approach rather than an immediate halt to charcoal use, the Daily Monitor also reports.