According to Owiny Dollo, the decision to roll out the commercial macadamia tree production is aimed at encouraging farmers in the Acholi Sub-region to embrace the cultivation of the high-value crop since it offers high economic returns to farmers and will also help to restore the degraded environment.
It is alleged that Okwir has been frustrating the fight against environmental degradation by conniving with the illegal tree fellers and charcoal producers by allegedly soliciting bribes from individuals involved in the illegal logging activities.
The lightning victims were reportedly struck dead at about 5 pm on Monday evening during a heavy downpour, at their home in Lotome Cell in Panyagol Parish, Wol Town Council.
According to Opio, owners of small trucks impounded with charcoal will be required to pay shillings 1.5 million while big lorries will pay shillings 3 million. while culprits apprehended transporting charcoal in trailer trucks will pay between shillings 5 and 10 million.
The matter came to the limelight after Denis Makmot, the owner of the private teak tree forest sought the intervention of the district leaders to apprehend Felix Okidi, the field extension officer attached to Mura parish in Wol Sub County, who reportedly took photos of his teak tree species under unclear circumstances.
The suspects identified as Rwot Jimmy Olula and his accomplices who include, his Prime Minister Nekanori Oboke, Bosco Ayella Adeng all residents of in Layada village, Ogole parish and Geoffrey Besweri a resident of Bugiri district were all remanded before the Patongo Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson told URN in an interview that the bags of charcoal were impounded and burnt down from Rugu –rugu Village, Adilang Sub –County in Agago district.
More than 30 residents armed with machetes, spears and axes stormed charcoal production camps in the area where dozens of people from Lackeotto village headed by the area LCI Chairperson Ramadan Odong were engaged in Charcoal production.
Omol says he lost three sacks of maize and two sacks of millet, which he had harvested recently and stored for family consumption. Omol notes that he is now stuck without food and shelter to accommodate his children, saying they are currently surviving on handouts from friends and relatives.
Agnes Matura Mabel, the Environment Officer CYLEX Engineering Ltd, says they have encountered resistance in the execution of the project from a section of residents led by cultural leaders in Parabongo, Lapono, Paimol and Wol Sub Counties.
The difficulties in accessing water treatment facilities also force residents to drink the contaminated water resulting suffering from a range of waterborne diseases caused by the polluted water.
