Joint security forces in Karamoja are conducting operations in which illegal charcoal traders are being cracked.
SSP Claire Nabakka, the Deputy Public Relations Officer, of the Uganda Police Force, said in a statement made on November 30, 2023, that they are enforcing Presidential Executive Order No. 3 of 2023.
“This order prohibits charcoal burning and trade in specified regions of North and North East Uganda (Karamoja, Teso, Lango, and Acholi) and West Nile,” Nabakka said.
According to Nabakka, President Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni issued the directive on May 19, 2023.
“Our operations in Karamoja targeted areas where charcoal was burned, resulting in successful impoundments of sacks of charcoal,” she said.
She added that the police established snap checkpoints along key routes to curb the transportation of charcoal out of Karamoja beyond identified hotspots.
Nabakka noted that these checkpoints have proven effective in intercepting charcoal from unmapped areas given Karamoja’s size, adding that they have so far impounded 4,019 bags of charcoal, handing them over to the National Forestry Authority (NFA)for proper management since the issuance of the executive order.
The Police has assured Ugandans of the commitment of the police to conserve the environment and ensure Karamoja remains an ecologically balanced and pleasant place to reside because their success is credited to the dedication of field commanders who provided strategic guidance, enabling field officers to implement the directive efficiently and minimize operational errors.