By KT Reporter
Cultural chiefs in Agago District on Sunday destroyed 800 bags of charcoal, valued at 24 million shillings, as part of a broader campaign aimed at curbing the mass destruction of trees for charcoal production. In December 2021, a team of cultural leaders from all 15 clans in Agago district launched a year-long campaign against the massive destruction of trees, especially endangered species like shea nut trees.
However, after some time, the operation was put on hold, following several challenges, such as monetary constraints to conduct the operation. Rwot Kassimiro Ongom, the clan leader of the Kotongo clan, who is also heading the operation, said they resumed the operation on Sunday after getting several phone calls from the community telling them the increasing level of forest destruction still going on in the district.
According to Ongom, the commercial charcoal dealers have pitched tents in ten locations in Labwa parish, Adilang sub-county, the first place they visited on Sunday.
Ongom noted that besides the destruction of trees, the commercial charcoal dealers are a source of security threat as they do not have identification documents, and have not even registered with the local leaders in the areas where they are operating.
The commercial charcoal dealers are also accused of fueling domestic violence in the area, as they are siring children with married women, and defiling girls.
According to Ongom, more than 200 children have been sired by commercial charcoal dealers in only one parish, and abandoned by their fathers.
He appealed to stakeholders and individual leaders to join hands in curbing the massive destruction of trees and also changing the mindset of the community to venture into other sustainable and environmentally friendly income-generating activities apart from the charcoal business.
Ongom also prayed that the president facilitate the reinforcement of his directive against commercial charcoal business, the same way he facilitated the implementation of the curfew during the COVID-19 lockdown, for his directive to have meaning.
Susan Akot Moro, the Agago Deputy Resident District Commissioner Confirmed that the installed checkpoints manned by UPDF are not doing the right enforcement, and sometimes leave the checkpoints without any security personnel, which facilitates free transportation of charcoal.
Akot revealed that some sub-counties like Arum also have many porous areas without security, which the charcoal dealers use to evade the checkpoints.
She said two weeks ago, the office of the RDC discussed with the security head at Labwordwong barracks, to consider erecting checkpoints in the porous area in Arum sub-county, to deter the traders from evading arrest.
Akot also blamed the community for failing to raise the alarm on those massively cutting trees, and thinking that the charcoal trade is the only source of income.
Akot explained that in Arum, they have already set a bylaws and anyone found cutting a tree is first fined 50,000 shillings before facing any other legal repercussion. Meanwhile, all LC Ones whose village is encouraging forest destruction will also be penalized, before the charcoal dealers.
She revealed that they might replicate the same measure in the other sub-counties, to ensure the local leaders are not seen as the ones abetting deforestation.
Leaders have identified Arum, Adilang, Kuywee, Lokole, and Wol Sub Counties as hotspots for mass charcoal production in the district-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
