At least 1,391 bags of charcoal has been impounded in Amuru since the District Council issued a ban on commercial charcoal business in August this year.
The largest numbers of bags — 694 bags were impounded in Amuru Sub County while the second largest was 400 bags from Pabbo Sub County and 297 bags from Lamogi Sub County.
The ban on commercial charcoal business came into effect on September 6, this year. The ban prohibits individuals or persons from loading more than five bags of at the same time.
According to the Amuru Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Martine Kiplangat, the district has indefinitely suspended all commercial charcoal business activities and indiscriminate tree cutting for timber.
Mr Kiplangat noted that as a tool for accountability, the district has resolved to dispose- off the bags of charcoal that have already been impounded through public auction.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru District LCV Chairperson warned that any truck that will be found carrying any forest product will be impound and the luggage offloaded and auctioned.
The District Chairman also warned civil servants against interfering with the ban saying they will be prosecuted although he did not state under which law.
Under their umbrella, Uganda Charcoal Dealers Association, charcoal business operators have pleaded with local leaders in Amuru district to give them more time so that they can recover the huge amount of money that they have already sunk.
1 Comment
There should be no mercy on charcoal traders, they are the ones killing the future of Acholi. Let them take the loss. Nwoya district which used to have a lot of forest cover is now almost depleted, it’s difficult finding real forest these days and soon the rainfall will be less and then comes the drought and a lot of people will die due to hunger that follows.