Army seizes charcoal and logs in Amuru and Zoka

Amuru | Bags of charcoal were seized by UPDF soldiers in northern Uganda.

At Akurukwe, Ugandan soldiers intercepted six trucks, two of which were driven to 4 Division headquarters in Gulu district and three of which remained packed near the Akurukwe Police Post.

Approximately 20,000 bags were impounded in Amuru district and stored at the district headquarters.

Nearly three thousand bags have been impounded in Zoka.

The owners are charcoal dealers who travel all over Uganda to trade in the charcoal business.

Despite being aware of the Presidential Executive Order, the dealers admitted to violating it due to a lack of jobs and the need to support their families.

They are pleading with the government to allow them to sell the charcoal that has been stored in these areas so that they can repay their loans and close the business.

Not only do locals trade in the business, but so do foreigners from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as other top civil servants.

Others are clearing forests to make way for agriculture.

Kilak Central Forest Reserve, the only one of the six central forest reserves with some good forest cover, has been hit the hardest.

It is also under the management of the National Forestry Authority‘s security, but it is extremely vulnerable.

The Gotgweno Central Forest Reserve is also being plundered. Trees are currently being cleared for agriculture and charcoal production.

Among the trees cut down is the valuable vitalleria paradoxa (the shear nut tree), which was cut down in Atiak and Okidi and packed ready for conversion into charcoal.