By Frank Kamuntu | Mr Swift
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 free gas cookers, subsidised refills and safety training for low-income households before introducing measures to restrict charcoal use.
Namyalo said environmental conservation policies must reflect the financial realities of ordinary Ugandans, warning that limiting access to traditional cooking fuels without affordable alternatives could worsen the hardships facing vulnerable families.
Addressing the media on Friday, October 16, 2026, she called for government support to enable households to adopt cleaner cooking methods without sacrificing their ability to meet other basic needs.
“We are not rich people. Some of us can’t afford a meal,” Namyalo said, questioning how families struggling to put food on the table could afford gas cookers and regular refills without assistance.
She argued that the transition to cleaner energy requires more than restrictions, noting that the cost of gas and fears about accidents discourage some households from adopting it.
“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.
Namyalo urged authorities to provide practical training on safe gas handling and explore affordable alternatives, including briquettes and improved cookstoves, before implementing measures affecting charcoal users.
Beyond cooking energy, Namyalo called for greater investment in afforestation and reafforestation, arguing that planting trees should be central to Uganda’s environmental conservation strategy.
“We are saying the first strategy should be advocating for afforestation,” she said, urging government to mobilise communities to plant trees and support sustainable livelihoods.
She specifically cited West Nile, calling for initiatives to encourage tree planting and help communities protect their environment while pursuing economic activities.
Namyalo also raised concerns about reported destruction of trees, encroachment on protected areas and degradation of wetlands and water resources.
Referring to controversies surrounding Mabira Forest in 2006 and 2007, she questioned the effectiveness of efforts to safeguard the country’s natural resources. She also expressed concern about alleged environmental damage around Lake Victoria, calling for stronger oversight by responsible institutions.
The ONC manager further questioned whether sufficient action was being taken to address concerns about declining fish stocks and pressure on water resources.
She urged authorities to strengthen accountability and ensure environmental protection measures deliver tangible results, rather than relying primarily on restrictions that could affect communities’ livelihoods.
Namyalo linked the debate to the wider cost-of-living challenge, arguing that government policies should prioritise the circumstances of households struggling to afford food and other necessities.
“For someone who can’t afford a meal a day, do I really need gas to prepare salt, onions and tomatoes?” she asked.
She maintained that modernisation and cleaner technologies were important but should be accompanied by financial support, public sensitisation and consultation with affected communities.
Namyalo also challenged public institutions to assess development through its impact on ordinary citizens, including whether households can afford meals, businesses can access credit, electricity supplies are dependable and public expenditure delivers value.
She emphasised that constructive criticism and accountability were necessary to improve governance and ensure public policies respond to citizens’ concerns.
“Constructive criticism is not disloyalty. Accountability is patriotism, and the people must remain at the centre of every public policy,” she said.
Her remarks highlight the challenge facing Uganda as it seeks to protect forests and promote cleaner cooking energy while ensuring vulnerable households can afford alternatives to charcoal.
Namyalo’s proposed approach calls for environmental protection to be matched with affordable cooking technologies, tree-planting initiatives, public education and stronger institutional accountability, ensuring conservation efforts do not deepen the financial difficulties of ordinary Ugandans.