FORT PORTAL UGANDA: Fort Portal City Woman Member of Parliament Linda Irene has called for balanced regulations on charcoal sales, saying restrictions should protect forests without threatening the livelihoods of people who depend on the trade.
Linda said Parliament had suspended a proposed resolution on charcoal sales until next week to allow further consultations on the proposed restrictions.
She argued that people with private tree plantations should be allowed to sell charcoal produced from their trees, provided they do not encroach on government forests.
Linda cautioned against regulations that could unfairly burden low-income households and charcoal traders, noting that electricity and gas remain too expensive for many families to afford for cooking.
She made the remarks on Friday during the closing of the two-day Rwenzori Indigenous Seed and Food Fair 2026 in Fort Portal City.
The fair was organised by the Rwenzori Agroecology Actors’ Platform (RAAP), with support from Joint Efforts to Save the Environment (JESE), to promote indigenous seeds and strengthen food security.
Linda called for a regulatory approach that distinguishes charcoal produced from private tree plantations from that obtained through the destruction of protected forests. She said the ongoing consultations should help establish clear guidelines that support legitimate businesses while safeguarding the environment.
Beyond the charcoal policy debate, Linda also pledged support for women who received funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and for vegetable farmers as part of efforts to improve agricultural production and preserve indigenous seed varieties.
She said the support would include providing spraying pumps to vegetable farmers and implementing other agricultural interventions aimed at boosting productivity.
Linda also urged farmers who had not yet planted maize to visit her office and collect seeds.
She said providing farmers with essential agricultural inputs, alongside promoting indigenous seed varieties, could strengthen household food security and improve livelihoods.
As Parliament prepares to revisit the proposed charcoal sales resolution, the challenge will be to establish enforceable regulations that curb deforestation while allowing sustainable charcoal production to continue and ensuring that households with limited alternatives can access affordable cooking energy.
