Kenzo weighs in as Parliament halts charcoal ban enforcement

What the report says

Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo has entered the debate over charcoal restrictions, arguing that forest protection should be paired with practical help for households that rely on charcoal for everyday cooking. In reporting published by Sqoop Uganda, Kenzo said environmental measures make sense only if families can also access affordable and convenient alternatives, especially in areas where charcoal remains a key source of energy.

The discussion is linked to President Yoweri Museveni’s 2023 executive order restricting charcoal burning and trade in parts of northern and eastern Uganda, including West Nile, Northern Uganda, Karamoja and the Teso sub-region. According to the publisher, the order was meant to curb environmental damage from commercial charcoal production, but it has also fueled concern over cooking costs, energy access and the livelihoods tied to the trade.

Sqoop Uganda reports that Parliament later called for enforcement of the ban to be suspended while government prepares a report on alternative energy options. Kenzo said he has learned more about government-backed substitutes such as liquefied petroleum gas and briquettes made from waste through discussions with his wife, State Minister for Energy Phiona Nyamutoro. He emphasized, however, that uptake will depend on whether households can afford these options and obtain them easily.

The broader issue reflects a policy challenge in Uganda: balancing forest conservation with the daily energy needs of households and businesses. Kenzo’s comments add a celebrity voice to a debate that remains both environmental and economic.