Environment
Man charged with illegal logging in Mabira Forest
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, has brought Sembwa Rabinson before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, on charges of Illegal Possession of Forest Produce.
The accused was arrested with more than 200 pieces of timber that were illicitly obtained from Mabira forest. This discovery was made during a search at his storage facility near the forest in Najjembe division, Lugazi Municipality.
According to a statement from the Anti-Corruption Unit, Sembwa has a history of illegal logging and has faced multiple arrests and charges for similar offences. He has been remanded in custody until October 12, 2023.
The investigation into the illegal activities in Mabira Forest was initiated by a directive from His Excellency the President, who has consistently voiced his opposition to such activities.
“Whoever destroys forests is an enemy of the country because forests work as a system, and when one part of the system is tampered with, the entire system is affected,” the President has stated.
Uganda faces a significant challenge with over 500,000 acres of forest being cleared annually, equivalent to deforesting 43 football fields every hour. In 2021 alone, Uganda lost 49,000 hectares of tree cover, resulting in 23.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The ongoing investigations have already revealed several illegal activities, including encroachment for agriculture, logging, charcoal production, and the issuance of land titles on forested land.
Preserving our forests is vital for safeguarding indigenous species and mitigating the effects of global warming. All individuals involved in these illegal activities will face legal consequences to protect our invaluable forests.
“We need to safeguard our forests if we are to preserve our indigenous species and mitigate the effects of global warming. All culprits will be brought to book, to protect our forests,” reads part of the statement.
