Police Clarify Charcoal Ban: Not Nationwide, Targets Specific Regions

Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke has clarified that recent warnings and threats of arrest regarding charcoal transportation do not constitute a nationwide ban. Instead, the enforcement actions are specifically targeted at regions covered by a presidential directive issued in May 2023.

Speaking at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, Rusoke explained that his remarks were misinterpreted as a countrywide prohibition. The directive primarily focuses on areas experiencing significant deforestation, including West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja, and the Teso sub-region.

Rusoke highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between charcoal produced within Uganda in restricted zones and charcoal imported from neighboring countries like South Sudan. He stated, “We need to establish how someone can differentiate between charcoal coming from South Sudan and charcoal produced in Uganda.”

The clarification follows public concern over intensified operations, which include the risk of arrest and vehicle impoundment for those transporting charcoal, even in small quantities. This enforcement is based on Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, aimed at combating forest destruction.

However, the crackdown has raised questions about its impact on households and traders who rely on charcoal for cooking, especially in urban areas where alternative fuels are less accessible or affordable. This has led to parliamentary intervention.

On October 14, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth called for a suspension of the enforcement pending a government statement detailing the policy and the availability of alternative energy sources. Rusoke’s clarification aims to address the geographical scope of the restrictions, but questions linger on the practicalities of implementation and origin verification.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/379732/charcoal-restrictions-do-not-apply-nationwide-police