The pilot project has seen 25 villages, eight trading centres and selected public institutions that have not been not part of the national electricity grid in Lamwo district with more expected to be connected to the power grid.
Morris Alana Lanek, the Pabwoch Village LCI Chairperson, says that the evening downpour that was accompanied by heavy wind ravaged immeasurable acres of maize, soybeans, simsim, beans, sweet potatoes and vegetables.
The impounded timber was reportedly plundered from forest reserves in Aram, Opoki and Abayo in Padibe West Sub County and Ywaya, Omuwa, Paladiya, Aweno-Olwiyo, Guriya, Lelabul and Berlobo in Dibolyec parish, Lokung East Sub County.
Lamwo Resident District Commissioner James Nabinson Kidega says that more than a thousand bags of charcoal, unburnt charcoal kilns and numerous makeshift camps were uncovered in the areas of Awenolwiyo East, Awenolwiyo and Bur lobo village in Lokung East Sub County.
According to Kidega, the residents are accusing the pastoralists of entering their land illegally and grazing cattle in their gardens. He adds that a number of community members have been mistreated after complaining about the mayhem caused by the animals.
Abraham Odur, the NFA Forest Supervisor for Aswa River Range comprising Acholi and Lango Sub Regions said that the illegal dealers are specifically destroying Shea trees unlike in other parts of the region.
Odur disclosed that an estimated population of shea trees covering over 30 square miles in Lamwo district have been destroyed by the illegal charcoal and log dealers.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Region police spokesperson identifies the suspect as Julius Mpande, the Officer in Charge of Operations at Kitgum Central Police Station.
Martin Abigaba, the Officer in Charge of Operations at Kitgum Central Police station told Uganda Radio Network in an interview Wednesday that the suspects were found destroying tree species indiscriminately in government forest reserves.
The Chairperson of Ayuu Alali Sugarcane Out-growers Cooperative Society Francis Ojwiya says the move will involve clearing approximately 30 feet area between the cane block plantations and the neighboring natural grass or bushes as the dry season sets in.
