Kampala: Chief Opposition Whip and Jinja South Division East Member of Parliament, Hon. Paul Mwiru, has asked the Speaker of Parliament to extend the interim suspension on enforcement of the charcoal ban until Government responds to concerns surrounding its implementation.
Mwiru made the submission during plenary as Parliament considered the status of the directive on charcoal use and trade, following an earlier decision to temporarily halt enforcement pending a Government statement on the matter.
The legislator reminded the House that the presiding officer had previously issued an interim remedy on the matter, effectively staying enforcement of the ban for a specified period.
He noted that the period covered by the interim arrangement had elapsed, creating the need for Parliament to clarify the position before enforcement could resume.
Mwiru said the situation had been further complicated by the Minister’s request for additional time to prepare and present a comprehensive response to Parliament.
He therefore asked the Speaker to use the authority of the Chair to extend the interim remedy, arguing that enforcement should not resume while the House is still waiting for the Government’s response.
According to Mwiru, maintaining the suspension would provide room for the Minister to present the required information and allow Parliament to properly consider the Government’s position before any further implementation of the ban.
The charcoal ban has generated debate in Parliament, particularly over the availability and affordability of alternative cooking energy for households that currently depend on charcoal and firewood.
Mwiru concluded by urging the Speaker to maintain the interim protection until the Minister has responded as requested, stressing that there should be no implementation of the ban during the period under consideration by Parliament.
