Following a crackdown on illegal charcoal dealing in the Acholi Subregion, officials from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) have seized a total of 200 tons of charcoal.
The operation follows a directive by the President in May banning the commercial use of charcoal and depleting of forest cover for the same purpose in the region.
In an his executive order issued on May 19, the President accused a section of security forces and officials in-charge of the Environment and National Forestry Authority (NFA) for facilitating the illegal trade of charcoal.
For the past two weeks, officials attached to the NFA and Environmental Police Protection Unit (EPPU) have teamed up with police to bring down wrong elements engaged in illegal transportation, sale and cutting down trees for charcoal.
According to the NFA Acting Range Manager for Aswa Region, John Giribo, officers have so far seized over 20 heavy trucks loaded with charcoal mostly from Amuru district. He says those implicated will be prosecuted in the courts of law.
“Statements have been taken from the drivers and files have been taken to the office of the resident State Attorney . They will be presented in court once the files have been sanctioned ” he says
The affected trucks have been parked at the NFA regional offices in Gulu City and the Gulu Police Barracks.
Giribo however says that the authority is faced with challenges in implementing the Presidential directive because of limited workforce.