TAKEAWAYS

• Cabinet has yet to provide a detailed position on the proposed charcoal ban.
• The initial LPG programme distributed 53,800 cylinder kits against a target of one million.
• Government is targeting 353,000 six-kilogram LPG cylinder kits by June 2027, with a 50% subsidy under a separate initiative.

The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro, has said the government is yet to provide a detailed position on the proposed charcoal ban in Uganda, urging the relevant authorities to explain its objectives and implementation once Cabinet reaches a decision.

Speaking on NBS TV, Nyamutoro said the question of banning charcoal had been directed to the wrong authority, adding that she was also waiting for more information about the proposal.

“In the event that Cabinet comes up with a position, the relevant authorities should be able to address the country … with proper responses on what government looks at achieving with a ban,” she said.

Nyamutoro added that she was “personally looking forward to having details on the ban myself.”

The proposed ban has raised questions about affordable alternatives for households that depend on charcoal and firewood for cooking, particularly as the government promotes cleaner energy sources.

During the interview, the minister also acknowledged the funding challenges affecting the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders intended to encourage households to shift away from traditional cooking fuels.

She said the LPG Infrastructure Development Programme initially targeted the distribution of one million cylinder kits between 2020 and 2026. However, only 53,800 kits had been distributed under that initiative, highlighting a significant financing gap.

The government is now working with the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company and private-sector firms, including Vivo, Total and Stabex, to expand access to LPG.

Nyamutoro said the initiative targets the distribution of 353,000 six-kilogram cylinder kits by June 2027. She reported that 254,000 cylinders had been distributed since November 2024.

The programme offers eligible households a 50 per cent subsidy on the actual price of a six-kilogram cylinder, while earlier promotional distributions considered household income and proximity to refilling stations.

Responding to calls for electricity to be prioritised as an alternative, Nyamutoro said it was not the only clean cooking option available.

“Electricity is not the only alternative that government is offering,” she said, noting that it was an option for households already connected to the grid.

Her remarks leave key questions about the charcoal ban unanswered, including when it could take effect, how it would be enforced and what support would be available to households that cannot easily afford alternative cooking fuels.