The Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has urged government to provide low-income households with gas cookers and affordable refills before implementing measures to restrict charcoal use.
Namyalo said environmental conservation policies should consider the financial realities of ordinary Ugandans, warning that limiting access to charcoal without providing affordable alternatives could worsen the hardships faced by vulnerable households.
Addressing the media on Friday, October 16, 2026, she called for the distribution of gas cookers, support for monthly refills and public education on the safe use of gas.
“We are not rich people. Some of us can’t afford a meal,” she said, questioning how households struggling to meet their basic needs could afford alternative cooking energy without government support.
Namyalo said many citizens remained hesitant to adopt gas because of the cost and fears of accidents, adding that sensitisation and practical training should precede any restrictions on traditional cooking fuels.
“You can’t say you are eliminating charcoal when the Ugandan alternative, gas, is not available to us. You have not trained us how to use the gas,” she said.
She urged government to explore other affordable cooking alternatives, including briquettes and improved cookstoves, while ensuring that the transition to cleaner energy does not impose an additional financial burden on low-income families.
Beyond cooking energy, Namyalo called for greater investment in afforestation and reafforestation, arguing that tree planting should be a central part of Uganda’s environmental conservation strategy.
She specifically cited West Nile, urging authorities to support communities in planting more trees and developing sustainable livelihoods as part of efforts to protect the environment.
Namyalo also raised concerns about the reported destruction of trees, encroachment on protected areas and degradation of wetlands and water resources. She cited Mabira Forest and areas around Lake Victoria, calling for stronger oversight and accountability by institutions responsible for environmental protection.
She questioned whether enough was being done to address environmental degradation and its wider implications, including concerns about declining fish stocks and pressure on water resources.
The ONC manager further linked the debate to the broader cost-of-living challenge, arguing that policymakers should consider families that struggle to afford food and other basic necessities.
“For someone who can’t afford a meal a day, do I really need gas to prepare salt, onions and tomatoes?” she asked, illustrating the difficult choices facing households with limited incomes.
Namyalo said modernisation and cleaner technologies were important, but their adoption should be accompanied by practical support, public sensitisation and consultation with affected communities.
She called on government and relevant institutions to ensure that environmental policies balance conservation objectives with citizens’ welfare, adding that accountability and responsiveness to public concerns were essential to effective governance.
“Constructive criticism is not disloyalty. Accountability is patriotism, and the people must remain at the centre of every public policy,” she said.
Namyalo said development should be measured not only by economic indicators but also by whether households can afford to prepare meals, businesses can access credit, electricity supplies are dependable and public expenditure delivers value.
Her remarks highlight the challenge facing policymakers as Uganda seeks to protect its forests and promote cleaner cooking energy while ensuring that affordable alternatives are available to households that depend on charcoal and firewood.
She urged government to combine environmental protection measures with investment, education and financial support so that the transition to cleaner energy is both sustainable and affordable.
