By: Melanie Aanyu

The Ministry of Water and Environment has banned commercial charcoal trade and timber production in Gulu District to combat environmental degradation.  

In a January 11 letter, the State Minister for Environment, Ms Beatrice Anywar told the chief administrative officer about the new directive.  “All issuance of forest produce movement documentation for charcoal or timber from Gulu District regardless of the source is forthwith suspended, except for harvests meant for local consumption within the district,” she said.

Ms Anywar said the forest produce permit books at the district have also been recalled.

The ban comes at a time Gulu District has lost the vast majority of its 590,000 hectares of tree cover to illegal logging and charcoal burning. According to the Global Forest Watch, the district lost 988 hectares to these activities in 2021 alone. 

However, Mr David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region police spokesman, said that the letter lacked specific directives for enforcement.