Police hands over impounded timber to NFA in Lamwo

Lamwo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Police in Lamwo have handed over 853 pieces of impounded timber to the National Forestry Authority (NFA). The Lamwo District police Commander Robert Kachumu says the consignment was part of the timber that was impounded during separate crackdowns mounted by the environmental police and officials of NFA against illegal loggers within the past year.

The impounded timber was reportedly plundered from forest reserves in Aram, Opoki and Abayo in Padibe West Sub County and Ywaya, Omuwa, Paladiya, Aweno-Olwiyo, Guriya, Lelabul and Berlobo in Dibolyec parish, Lokung East Sub County. 

Kachumu says most of the illegal loggers who were found in possession of the said timber were arrested, charged and fined before the courts of law while others are still on remand pending prosecution. According to Kachumu, the suspects were charged with illegal possession of forest produce contrary to provisions of the National Forestry Act. 

Jimmy Ouna, the NFA Regional Supervisor says that as required by law, the timber will subsequently be transferred to their headquarters in Kampala upon which a court order will be secured to allow it to be auctioned by registered auctioneers.  

The Lamwo Resident district commissioner James Nabinson Kidega says that illegal trade in forest products has led to grave destruction of forest reserves for both charcoal burning and other tree products. Kidega says they would not condone the illegal practice by the forest product harvesters who are continuously robbing the government of economic revenue due to non-payment of taxes and were to blame for the grave depletion of the environment.

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