Parliament has suspended the enforcement of the ban on charcoal burning and trade until the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development presents a comprehensive statement on the policy and the availability of alternative energy sources.
The directive was issued by Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth during plenary on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, following concerns over the impact of the ban on households that depend heavily on charcoal and firewood for cooking.
The ban stems from Presidential Executive Order No. 3, issued on 19 May 2023, which prohibited charcoal burning and trade in West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and the Teso sub-region.
Speaker Oboth directed government to report to Parliament the following Wednesday on the implementation of the ban and progress made in promoting alternative sources of energy.
“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,” Oboth said.
The decision followed concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who said the enforcement announcement had caused public alarm.
Ssenyonyi cited Uganda Bureau of Statistics data indicating that between 87 and 94 percent of Ugandans rely on charcoal and firewood, and questioned whether government had done enough to make alternative energy sources affordable and accessible.
He also questioned the uptake of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which he put at about two percent, arguing that many households struggle to afford subsequent gas refills despite receiving free starter kits.
Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutooro, said government was promoting LPG, electric cooking, ethanol and biogas as alternatives. She added that government had introduced a special electricity tariff for cooking and was distributing LPG cylinders and accessories to encourage adoption.
Nyamutooro further said LPG would be produced from the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects, which she said would improve access to clean cooking gas.
Meanwhile, Igara County West MP Cohen Amanya questioned the legality of the charcoal ban and called for enforcement to remain suspended until the relevant legislation is enacted.
Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng said the issue involves several government agencies and would require a phased approach, with dialogue between the Leader of Government Business and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to determine a way forward.
