Police to implement presidential timber export ban

By Ben Musanje

24^th July 2023

Police have directed the territorial commanders to start the joint enforcement of the presidential ban on the timber exportation and charcoal burning within the country.

This follows a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni on 21st June 2023 instructing the prime minister to take action to reverse the worrying trends of deforestation.

Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson while addressing a news conference at Naguru, noted that the territorial commanders have been directed to ensure that this order is respected and honoured.

Enanga adds that they have deployed crime intelligence officers to many hot spots which may be used by wrong elements to conduct timber business and charcoal burning out of the country especially to neighboring nations.

The National policy committee on Environment has also resolved to ban the export of timber and cancelled all licenses and permits issued in this regard as a way of protecting the environment in the country.

Last week, some legislators pleaded with the Government to revise the ban saying it would promote poverty since many Ugandans had embraced tree farming as a source of income.

In her response, the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja noted that Uganda is losing over 1,000 trees every day as a result of the practice and most of the companies that had been issued licences to deal in timber had abused the agreement and resorted to exporting timber out of the country without value addition.

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