Haruna Busobozi, the NFA Sector Manager for West Acholi, which comprises Gulu, Omoro, Nwoya and Amuru districts told URN on Tuesday that the charcoal bags were impounded between January and March this year.
In Okidi North and East Villages in Attiak Sub County in Amuru district, more than 100 acres of Shea nut trees have been cut down by the charcoal dealers.
Xavier Sekanabo from the Environmental Police Protection Unit who led the operation said that they have no mercy for the charcoal dealers because they are depleting the environment and indiscriminately destroying the endangered tree species including Afzelia Africana, shea and mahogany among others.
She told URN that she has been in the business for only three months following a connection with a friend and has never cut trees or burnt charcoal but been buying in small scale.
Gen Lokech specifically pointed fingers at the Resident District Commissioners, District Police Commanders, and some political heads as some of the offices through which crime is abetted. Gen Lokech linked the current “abnormal” temperature experienced in the region to the plunder of forest resources and destruction of the forest cover.
Haruna Busubozi, the NFA Sector Manager for Gulu disclosed to URN on Thursday that they auctioned over 2000 charcoal bags at between Shillings 20,000 and 25,000 and sent the money to the national treasury.
Kafuuzi revealed that the government has a special fund earmarked for compensating landlords who intend to evict Ugandans from their areas of settlement and promised to dispatch a team to evaluate the land and they buy it for the locals.
Matiya Lwanga Bwanika says that the people involved in degrading the environment especially participating in unacceptable sand mining, wiping out natural forests by cutting down trees and thereafter grabbing land meant for forest reserves are mostly high profile people who are known to be untouchable and therefore no policy from the current regime can apprehend them.
The seedlings were donated to NFA Gulu branch in October last year by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-UNHCR to be distributed to refugees and their host communities in Lamwo and Adjumani districts.
One of the victims whose houses was burnt identified as Opwonya Laywer says the armed men in came to the area and asked them to leave the area immediately before setting the houses ablaze. Michael Lakony, Amuru district LCV chairperson says this is not the first-time huts are being burnt in the area ever since the border dispute between Amuru and Adjumani started some years back.
Hundreds of residents occupying the land started a Protest on Friday morning alleging that the exercise may see them evicted from the land they called home for many years. They also accuse NFA officials of destroying their crops and brutalizing those challenging the exercise.
Byarugaba says the district is facing high environmental degradation, characterized by mass tree cutting and depletion of swamps for charcoal burning and agriculture respectively. He says the department is considering tough regulations against the practices that harm the environment to save the area from severe weather conditions.
Laroker P'Okot the chairperson of the Acholi community in the diaspora says that accountability for the money has not been made. Laroker explains that in May, Michael Lakony, the Amuru LCV Chairperson wrote to them seeking for more financial support. He, however, says that they halted further donations until accountability is made.
