FDC Proposes Phased Charcoal Ban, Demands Subsidized Clean Energy

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has called for a more measured approach to the recently suspended nationwide ban on commercial charcoal. Instead of high-handed enforcement, the opposition party, through its Vice Chairperson Robert Franco Centenary, is urging the government to engage in direct consultations with charcoal traders and affected communities to develop a realistic, phased transition plan.

Centenary emphasized that if the government’s ultimate goal is clean energy, it must make sustainable options affordable. “If clean energy is the ultimate goal, government must genuinely subsidize electricity tariffs for cooking and bring the cost of gas refills down to a level that low-income earners can afford,” he stated during a press briefing.

The FDC also highlighted that current punitive measures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations while failing to address the root causes of environmental degradation. The party pointed to institutional corruption, unregulated logging, and broader economic pressures as key drivers of deforestation, rather than solely blaming the informal charcoal sector.

To counter environmental decline, the FDC proposed an aggressive nationwide reforestation campaign. They suggested the National Forestry Authority (NFA) distribute free tree seedlings to citizens during monthly community service days. The party stressed that conservation policies should not penalize the poor and urged the government to use the parliamentary grace period to rethink its environmental strategy.

Furthermore, the FDC called for government intervention to alleviate economic hardships faced by citizens, including rising costs of food, transport, and essential goods. They advocated for strategic investments in local agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the Ugandan Shilling. While acknowledging recent monetary policy interventions, the FDC maintains that long-term relief requires structural economic support.

Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicates that a significant majority of Ugandan households, between 87 and 94 percent, rely on biomass for cooking, with approximately 80 percent of Kampala residents specifically depending on charcoal.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/fdc-urges-phased-charcoal-ban-transition-demands-subsidized-clean-energy-5638270