King Saha Challenges Museveni: Where Do You Want Ugandans to Cook From?

As Uganda tightens restrictions on the charcoal trade in a bid to combat deforestation and protect its forests, citizens are pushing back. The timing has intensified the debate, with fuel prices soaring and the cost of keeping a household running becoming increasingly burdensome. Among the prominent voices challenging the restrictions is Ugandan pop star King Saha, who is asking the government a simple but pressing question: “Where do you want people to cook from, and what alternative are you providing?” For many families, particularly in Kampala, the question is painfully practical: how do you cook a meal when the alternatives are expensive, supplies are dwindling, and the cost of living keeps rising? Clean cooking alternatives exist, but for many Ugandans, they remain financially out of reach. Charcoal and firewood are not simply lifestyle choices; they are the fuels many households can afford. So why does Uganda remain so dependent on charcoal and firewood? Is restricting the charcoal trade enough to protect the environment, or must the government first make cleaner alternatives affordable and accessible to ordinary citizens? The challenge is clear: protecting Uganda’s forests without leaving millions of households struggling to put food on the table.