The Democratic Party leader wants the government to promote tree-grown charcoal, remove taxes on cooking gas and provide public education before enforcing restrictions, arguing that households need affordable alternatives.
Democratic Party (DP) president general Norbert Mao has proposed a three-year transition to sustainably produced charcoal, warning that abrupt restrictions could burden households that cannot afford alternative cooking fuels.
Mao said the government should distinguish between charcoal produced by destructively harvesting natural forests and that made from deliberately planted trees, using improved production methods to minimise waste.
Speaking at a press conference at the party offices, Mao said DP supported the shift towards cleaner cooking but wanted a gradual approach that considers the economic circumstances of households dependent on charcoal.
“It is not practical from the point of view of DP to say no more charcoal immediately,” Mao said.
His proposal comes amid debate over government restrictions on charcoal burning and trade. On October 14, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth directed the government to suspend enforcement pending a report from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development on the availability and uptake of alternative cooking fuels.
Mao said sustainable charcoal production could reduce pressure on natural forests without immediately eliminating a fuel on which many Ugandans depend.
“What is our recommendation? Our recommendation is that we must distinguish between what we call extractive charcoal, the one which destroys forests, and what we call responsible charcoal,” he said.
Under the proposal, farmers would deliberately grow trees for charcoal production and use more efficient kilns to reduce waste.
Mao, who is also the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister under a deal his party signed with the ruling National Resistance Movement party, said DP was drawing on research by Kijani Forestry and other sources but did not provide detailed findings during the press conference.
“Responsible charcoal protects the environment and preserves forests,” he said, contrasting tree-grown charcoal with harvesting trees from natural forests such as Mabira.
Affordability remains a concern
The proposal reflects the challenge of reducing dependence on charcoal while ensuring households can afford cleaner alternatives.
A Makerere University Economic Policy Research Centre report published in March 2026 warned that the transition to cleaner cooking could stall without coordinated action on affordability, consumer behaviour and livelihoods.
Figures cited by the centre indicate that charcoal is the main cooking fuel for 70.6% of households in Kampala and 48.6% of urban households nationally. The charcoal trade is estimated to be worth about $580 million annually and supports approximately 200,000 livelihoods.
Mao questioned why households should be penalised for using charcoal when affordable alternatives were not readily available.
“Don’t use charcoal. Okay, what should I use? What should I use? You are telling me don’t use charcoal. Should I now? Can I eat raw matoke?” he asked.
He proposed four measures: public education, affordable cooking gas, accessible distribution networks and government support.
Mao specifically called for taxes on cooking gas to be removed to encourage adoption, comparing the proposal with tax relief measures used to promote solar energy.
“The government should be able to say the transition period is going to be three years, and then during those three years we carry out public education,” he said.
The government has been promoting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric cooking, ethanol and biogas as alternatives to charcoal and firewood. However, households must also consider equipment costs, fuel refills, electricity bills and the reliability of supply.
Executive Order No. 3 of 2023 restricts charcoal burning and trade in West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and the Teso sub-region. The government has defended the measures as necessary to curb forest destruction and encourage cleaner cooking.
Parliament's suspension directive followed concerns about enforcement and whether alternative fuels were sufficiently accessible.
A phased transition could give households time to adapt, but its success would depend on the affordability and availability of alternatives.
Sustainable charcoal production would also require safeguards to ensure trees are deliberately cultivated, harvesting is responsible and improved kilns reduce environmental damage.
Mao said DP intended to consult stakeholders and promote national discussion on the proposal, arguing that Ugandans needed time and practical support to change their cooking methods.
“With due respect to the government in which I sit as a minister, Ugandans are very obedient people. They should be given time,” he said.