Over 1,250 Bags of Charcoal Impounded in Crackdown in Acholi

Haruna Busobozi, the Northern Region National Forestry Authority Sector Manager, says that the charcoal was impounded in the ongoing joint crackdown by NFA, Environmental Police Protection Unit and the local leaders of the respective districts in Acholi Sub –Region.

While Total E&P Uganda B.V. announced that it is has relinquished 9% of the area it had been permitted to develop in the ecologically sensitive area of the Murchison Falls National Park for environmental reasons, the Afiego Chief insists the process and term for relinquishment has not been transparent.

Its location, as the host of Uganda’s sole international airport, the Botanical Gardens, the famous Entebbe Zoo and as a peninsular into Lake Victoria, gave it a niche, as an ideal destination for tourists to Historical sites, leisure parks, hotels and sand beaches. Back then, a visit to Entebbe came with a breath of fresh air as a gentle breeze from the lake swept through the town, blowing the wind softly, through the clean streets.

The roads that have so far been rehabilitated include 33km Bobi Frontiers – Awor to Ongako, 0.5km Opit to Awor at a tune of 250 million for gravelling under the low-cost ceiling, 8.9km Lakwatomer- Abole-Abili at a tune of 48 million, 8.7km Lalogi-Bario at a tune of 50 million shillings. Others include, 40km Abili-Abwoch to Wii Tochi and Opit to Awor rehabilitated under the district discretionary equalization grant-DDEG. Other roads earmarked for rehabilitation in the next financial year include 7.8km Lakwatomer- Palenga to Keto in Lakwana Sub County and 8km Abole-Lujo Awinyo -Lagwer Dola road.

Annet Kyomuhendo, a charcoal dealer in Kigongi in Central division Kabale municipality says that she now sells a sack of charcoal at 30,000 from 20,000 Shillings and a basin at 6,000 from 3,000 Shillings.

On Tuesday, the residents led by the Ayivu East MP-elect, Geoffrey Feta, delivered a petition to the National Forest Authority-NFA Range Manager for West Nile demanding immediate cancellation of the lease offer of 10 hectares.

Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju, the Kanungu Deputy Resident District Commissioner said that all sand mines in the district will remain closed until standard sand mining measures are put in place.