KAMPALA UGANDA: The Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Phiona Nyamutooro, has defended her remarks about abandoning charcoal at home, saying her intention was to promote alternative cooking methods rather than boast about her status.
Nyamutooro said her comments had been misinterpreted by members of the public, clarifying that her decision to stop using charcoal was informed by knowledge and experience gained through her work in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
“My statement had absolutely nothing tied to status, because fellow ministers are still using charcoal,” she said.
The minister faced criticism following remarks she made during Parliament’s plenary sitting on October 14, 2026, when legislators questioned whether Ugandan households could afford alternative cooking fuels amid enforcement of restrictions on charcoal.
While addressing Parliament, Nyamutooro revealed that she had stopped using charcoal after joining the ministry, describing her previous reliance on it as a mistake.
“I have since repented my sins,” she told the House.
She also urged fellow legislators to join her campaign against charcoal use, calling on them to help spread awareness about alternative cooking methods across the country.
On Thursday, Nyamutooro reiterated that her remarks were intended to encourage leaders to support the transition to cleaner cooking energy.
“As a clean cooking champion, I can never shy away from that,” she said.
In a series of posts on her X account on Friday, the minister further clarified that Uganda’s transition to alternative energy sources should be treated as a national journey rather than a response limited to prevailing circumstances.
“For further clarity, information on alternative energy sources will not be limited to prevailing circumstances. It is a journey that we need to undertake and embrace as a country as per our energy transition plan,” she wrote.
Nyamutooro maintained that her remarks were not directed at her constituents in Nebbi or other Ugandans who continue to depend on charcoal for cooking. Instead, she said, her intention was to educate the public about alternative cooking methods and encourage the adoption of cleaner energy sources.
She called on other clean cooking advocates to join the campaign and work with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to promote alternative fuels nationwide.
“Clean cooking champions, join the advocacy for the use of alternative energy sources and together let’s systematically spread these initiatives across the country,” she wrote, tagging the ministry’s official account.
Parliament Suspends Enforcement Of Charcoal Ban
The minister’s clarification comes amid growing debate over the enforcement of restrictions on charcoal trade and the affordability of alternative cooking fuels.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth directed the government to suspend enforcement of the charcoal ban until the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development presents a statement to Parliament explaining the restrictions and the progress made in promoting alternative energy sources.
“Government should come next Wednesday and update us on this ban, and tell us the extent of the performance by the ministry in promoting alternative energy sources,” the Speaker said.
He added that enforcement should be suspended in the meantime because of the difficulties authorities could face in implementing the restrictions.
“For between now and Wednesday, let us first suspend the enforcement. I do that not because I support charcoal, but because I am aware of how difficult it is going to be for the enforcers,” Oboth said.
The directive followed concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, who said the announcement on enforcement of the ban had caused widespread public alarm.
The restrictions stem from Presidential Executive Order No. 3, issued on May 19, 2023, which bans charcoal burning and trade in West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and the Teso sub-region.
Parliament’s intervention places renewed focus on the need to balance environmental protection with the economic realities facing households that depend on charcoal, particularly where affordable and accessible alternatives remain limited.
The government is expected to update Parliament on the enforcement of the restrictions and its efforts to promote alternative cooking energy sources.
