Due to widespread public outcry and majority MPs protests and legitimate concernss Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth Oboth has temporarily suspended the enforcement of the charcoal ban and related operations until next Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The Parliament on X announced that the suspension will remain in place while lawmakers await a comprehensive report from the government.
Speaker Oboth-Oboth noted that the decision is not an endorsement of charcoal use, but an acknowledgement of the practical and operational difficulties enforcers face on the ground, as well as the immediate economic pressure on traders and consumers.
The government is expected to present a full report to Parliament next Wednesday (October 21, 2026) to guide further debate and policy direction.
The crackdown and executive orders surrounding the charcoal trade—stemming from environmental protection initiatives and restrictions on tree cutting—have sparked widespread debate between environmental conservationists and affected trader.
Meabwhile ,the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has urged Ugandans with electricity connections to switch from charcoal to electric cooking as security agencies intensify enforcement of President Yoweri Museveni’s restrictions on charcoal production and trade in parts of the country.
Julius Wandera, ERA’s Head of Consumer Affairs, said electricity-connected households should consider electric cooking rather than continue relying on charcoal, arguing that the cost may be lower than many consumers expect.
He cited the Shs412-per-unit cooking tariff, commonly known as the Fumba tariff, and said a typical meal could require three to four units of electricity, depending on the appliance used and the food being prepared.
“A unit of electricity for cooking, what we call a cooking electricity or Fumba tariff, is 412 shillings,” Wandera said.\
“Don’t say electricity is expensive. We did a very scientific study. It’s cheaper to cook using electricity than charcoal,” he added.
Wandera also urged consumers experiencing persistent electricity outages to report them to the regulator so that the responsible electricity utility can investigate and address the problem.
He acknowledged that households without electricity connections, particularly in remote rural areas, face a different challenge. His immediate appeal is directed at consumers who already have access to the grid.
