A truck being loaded with alleged illegal charcoal in Amuru district. Photos by Walter Okot
By Walter Okot
Amuru: James Onyinge Penywii, the Director of Research, Education and Advocacy in the Office of Inspectorate General of Government (IGG) has ordered the arrest of traders still involved in illegal trade in charcoal.
On May 28, 2023, President Yoweri Museveni issued Executive Order No 3 which among others banned the production of and trade in charcoal in Northern Uganda as part of efforts to protect the environment. However, the trade continues on a large scale.
During a visit to Amuru district on Wednesday, Penywii expressed disappointment about the continued destruction of trees for mass charcoal production.
Penywii who was in the district to sensitize civil servants to fight against corruption in public offices, found trucks loaded with bags of charcoal being transported to Kampala.
He said the business is against the presidential directive and also destroys the environment.
Peny Wii said he was upset when he learned that police officers escort trucks loaded with charcoal up to Karuma, because the business belongs to influential people in the government.
“How do you act against the presidential directive, allowing people to cut trees and burn charcoal?” Penywii asked, adding, “As civil servants, you should foster strict adherence to fair, efficient, and good governance in public offices without discrimination.”
DPC report connivance with leaders
Philip Mukasa, the Amuru District Police Commander said he was posted to the district two weeks ago, but found it difficult to stop the traders because they are conniving with some local leaders.
“These local leaders are threatening us in our attempt to stop the vice that when we arrest them, they will call the president who will release them and in turn interdict us,” Mukasa said.
Mukasa said he also found out that the local communities are still involved in the charcoal business with the support of local leaders. According to Mukasa, the local leaders put illegal roadblocks on the pretext of collecting revenue from farmers taking produce to the market, but also collect revenue from charcoal dealers.
The DPC said he had an instruction to remove all revenue roadblocks in the district and ask the sub-county authorities to devise means of levying revenue on farm produce.
“I’m different. Before I arrest you, I must make sure you know, but now that they know, I will arrest them without fear or favor,” Mukasa said.
Mukasa said for the past two days, they have been arresting people involved in the charcoal business and taking them to court.
Partial implementation of Presidents’ directive
Author Owor, the Program Manager of the Centre for Africa Research and founder of an environmentalists’ pressure group called “Our Trees We Need Answers” said the presidential directive was good, but the implementers like Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) failed it by focusing mainly on the balaalo issue.
Owor said local government units, especially sub-counties still look at commercial charcoal burning as a source of revenue, while the dealers now transport charcoal at night, or use boda-bodas to carry them to the bus park, before they are transported to Kampala.
He said to stop the vice, there is a need to do research on the changing trend in the charcoal business and engage the community to demonstrate the effects of cutting trees.
Christopher Oruka, an environmental activist, said local leaders, right from village leaders to the district level and other appointed leaders like the security personnel have made the charcoal business a source of their income.
“It is difficult to stop the charcoal business because army officers are involved in the business and they coordinate with Resident District Commissioners, District Internal Security Organizations and police to operate freely,” Oruka said.
Oruka said the army officers always threaten the district forest officer if he tries to stop their charcoal business.
He also blamed the communities for allowing charcoal dealers to operate in their areas and appealed to the government to allocate funds for replanting trees.
