By Nathan Eyagu

SOROTI CITY – Charcoal traders and low-income residents in Soroti City have rallied behind human rights lawyer Joshua Okello as he challenges the government's restrictions on charcoal production and trade in a case scheduled for hearing at the Soroti High Court on November 16, 2026.

The traders say the enforcement of the restrictions has threatened their livelihoods, leaving many struggling to provide basic necessities for their families.

Aanyu Stella, a charcoal businesswoman residing in Kichinjaji, Soroti City West, said the legal challenge represents the concerns of ordinary Ugandans whose survival depends on the charcoal trade.

Aanyu explained that proceeds from her daily charcoal sales help her pay school fees for her children and meet other household needs.

While acknowledging the importance of environmental conservation, she urged the government to provide affordable and accessible alternative energy sources before enforcing measures that could push vulnerable families further into economic hardship.

She argued that restricting the charcoal business without providing practical alternatives unfairly affects small-scale traders and households that cannot afford other sources of energy.

The legal challenge targets the enforcement of Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, which restricts charcoal production and trade in regions including Teso, Karamoja and Northern Uganda.

Okello argues that the enforcement measures, including the confiscation of charcoal and arrests of small-scale traders, raise serious human rights concerns and disproportionately affect economically vulnerable communities.

The Soroti High Court has already served the Attorney General with a hearing notice, with proceedings scheduled to resume on November 16, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

Ahead of the hearing, Aanyu has appealed to fellow charcoal traders, residents and other sympathisers to turn up at the court in solidarity with Okello.

She believes a strong public presence will demonstrate the extent to which the restrictions affect grassroots communities and the families that depend on the trade for survival.

The upcoming hearing is expected to renew debate over the balance between environmental protection, government regulation and the economic rights of communities that rely on charcoal as a source of income.