Uganda’s campaign to protect its forests has entered a new phase after a coordinated security operation in the West Nile Sub-region led to the arrest of eight suspects accused of engaging in the illegal charcoal trade.
The operation brought together the Uganda Police Force’s Environmental Protection Police Unit (EPPU), the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
Security teams raided areas within Madi Okollo District and surrounding communities as part of an ongoing nationwide effort to curb environmental crimes and enforce government directives on forest conservation.
During the operation, authorities recovered 72 bags of charcoal, which were seized as evidence and transported to Madi Okollo Police Station.
The eight suspects were subsequently charged with illegally dealing in forest produce, specifically charcoal, contrary to Uganda’s environmental laws and the Presidential directive banning the trade in designated regions.
The enforcement action follows Executive Order No. 3 of 2023, issued by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in May 2023, which prohibited the burning, production, transportation, and commercial trade of charcoal across Northern and North Eastern Uganda, including the sub-regions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, and Karamoja.
The directive was introduced to combat widespread deforestation, restore degraded ecosystems, and promote sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.
Police have reiterated that individuals involved in the illegal charcoal business or any activities contributing to environmental destruction will continue to face firm legal action.
According to Rusoke Kituuma, the police spokesperson, joint enforcement operations will remain active across the affected regions, with offenders subject to arrest, prosecution, and confiscation of illegally obtained forest products.
Authorities have also appealed to the public to support the national campaign against environmental degradation by reporting illegal charcoal production, transportation, and other forms of forest destruction to the nearest police station or relevant government agencies.
