by SSEMPIJJA SULAIMAN.
Residents in mbale city have raised an alarm on the escalating price of charcoal in the area.
After the presidential directive on May 24th, 2023 on the burn of charcoal, this has led to lower Production of charcoal in the area. The ditective has not only affected the residents but also the large market of charcoal in mbale and Nkoma village at large.
Musa Sekiya, one of the chairmen in the charcoal business says that the directive has affected them from prices to transportation and also in production.
“The suck of charcoal was at 20,000USH and we used to sell it at 28,000USH, but know it is impossible because of the transportation and the inadequate number of charcoals.” He said.
He further said that the transportation of charcoal has changed from free movement to smuggling it to the market hence putting in much money in transportation and many people have started to vacate the job because of the expenses it.
The presidential order has not only brought debates among traders but also individuals that use charcoal, many people from home to mini market restaurants(toninyira), they have also faced the effects of the burn in use and money that escalates every now and then.
According to mama abdul, a resident in the area says that the price of charcoal is escalating from the 24th up to date, she further said that they used to buy charcoal at 2000USH and it could work for 2 days cooking the whole food but now it only works half a day or less.
“We used to order charcoal at a low price like at 20,000USH that could work for a week or two but know due to low charcoal in the area it is brought on order and also it cannot work for that time.” she said.
As the country embarks on the use of gass and other better ways to save the trees in the country, many people in the area ask the government to rethink on the directive as it is affecting them.
