Provide an alternative source of Energy before banning Charcoal sales, residents tell government

By Kaleb Yiiki

Arua

Arua City Residents have called on Government to provide alternative Sources of Fuel for Domestic Use before implementing the ban on charcoal sales.
According to the Global Forestry Watch, from 2001 to 2021, Uganda lost 261ha of tree cover from fires and 967kha from all other drivers of loss. Northern Uganda has become the epicenter of charcoal production in the recent past. With trees such as shea nut and Afzelia Africana being most targeted for charcoal and timber; this has led to a general decline in forest cover. Uganda's 3.6% per annum booming population and migration has increased demand for agricultural land and firewood energy. More so and rural poverty restricts the ability to invest in sustainable land use practices.

Latifa Abubaker, a Senior Three Student at Arua Public Secondary School says the ban on Charcoal is going to affect those who live in the urban areas and more importantly the Urban Poor for charcoal is at the Moment most affordable fuel Source as compared to the other Alternative sources. She further encouraged even the urban poor to plant trees to help avert the erratic rain patterns that have caused increase of food prices in the Urban Areas due to low supply.  “Charcoal is a bit cheap as for now, for you can buy Charcoal at Ugandan Shillings 1,000 but you cannot buy a unit of Ugandan Shillings Electricity at 1,000. She Narrates.

Jack Sabit, a vendor at Arua Main Market in Arua City who is also a household head recommended that, Government should make affordable, Kerosene and gas stoves to Households. “This is going to affect us badly since most of us low income earners mostly depend on Charcoal for fuel. Government should consider us before the ban on use of Charcoal by providing a cheaper household fuel alternative.” He recommended.

A number of woman selling charcoal in Arua City

Meanwhile, some of the Women in Arua City, who deal in Charcoal Business preferring anonymity complained bitterly when asked about their view about this move by Government. They said that the reason they do Charcoal Business is because, they do not own land for farming and the Charcoal business, helps them to pay school fees, and to cook food at for the Children in homes. They also castigated the Government Leaders who put the Ban on Charcoal Sale in place, arguing that, before these government officials became employees of Local government, they were also raised by food prepared using either Charcoal or Fire wood. They also expressed dissatisfaction on the side of their husbands who, they accused of laziness; arguing that the men have reserved themselves from working to support the families. They continued to recount that, these and many other factors have caused untold Women sufferings as they fend for their families in everything, right from farming, doing business on roadsides to the extent of going out to cut down the trees themselves for charcoal. They however recommended that, Government should have started supporting women selling Charcoal before putting the charcoal sale ban.

Regarding the forest sector in Uganda, in the last one or so decades, Uganda has carried out several Policies, Legal and Institutional Reforms aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable use of the country’s forest resources including the National Forestry Policy of 2001, the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of 2003 and establishment of the National Forestry Authority, among others.

COVER PHOTO: Charcoal being offlaoded in Arua City By Kaleb Yiiki