BY OUR REPORTER
ONC manager calls for affordable cooking alternatives, tree planting and greater accountability in environmental protection
KYAMBOGO – The manager in the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, yesterday raised concerns over the cost of doing business and proposed restrictions on charcoal, warning that policies should not add pressure on struggling households.
Speaking to the media on Friday, October 16, Namyalo said high borrowing costs, the exchange rate and electricity tariffs could undermine investment, job creation and economic growth. She questioned whether current monetary and fiscal measures were making it harder for entrepreneurs to access affordable financing and expand, and called for closer scrutiny of decisions affecting the private sector.
Charcoal and cooking energy
Namyalo cautioned against limiting charcoal use before affordable alternatives are widely available. She proposed a programme to distribute gas cookers, subsidise regular refills, and train communities on the safe use of gas.
“You can’t say you are eliminating charcoal when the Ugandan alternative, gas, is not available to us,” she said, adding that people have not been trained to use it. She said fear of accidents and limited knowledge could discourage many families from switching.
She also linked the issue to the rising cost of living, asking how households that struggle to afford a daily meal could be expected to pay for gas or electric cooking. She suggested that briquettes and improved cookstoves could complement the transition, and urged government agencies to prioritise community sensitisation and make fuels, equipment and safety information accessible to poorer households.
Tree planting and environmental protection
Namyalo called for greater investment in afforestation and reafforestation as the first strategy against deforestation, arguing that restoring forests and supporting communities should take priority over restrictions that could strain household incomes. She singled out West Nile as an area needing more support for tree planting, and questioned whether adequate consultation had been done before measures affecting local livelihoods were introduced.
She also raised concerns over the alleged destruction of trees planted under conservation initiatives, and referred to the controversies over Mabira Forest in 2006 and 2007. She alleged that encroachment around Lake Victoria had contributed to environmental damage. She urged the relevant authorities to strengthen oversight of forests, wetlands and water resources, and asked whether enough was being done about declining fish stocks and water availability.
Accountability and people-centred policy
Namyalo urged policymakers to consult citizens, explain proposed changes and put support measures in place before introducing policies that affect household budgets. She said environmental sustainability and public welfare should go hand in hand, with investment in public education, infrastructure and financial support to make cleaner options practical.
“Constructive criticism is not disloyalty. Accountability is patriotism, and the people must remain at the centre of every public policy,” she said. She added that development should be measured not only by economic indicators but also by people’s ability to afford cooking, businesses’ access to credit, the reliability of electricity and whether public spending delivers value. #JajjaKwesiva2031