Charcoal set ablaze, dealers under fire

Amuru. Amuru District leaders backed by the army and police last Wednesday raided a camp used by illegal charcoal dealers and set ablaze several temporary makeshift structures in a crackdown aimed at curbing charcoal burning and tree felling in the district.
More than 1,000 bags of charcoal were also set ablaze and a total of 150 people dealing in illegal charcoal trade were arrested in the impromptu operation conducted at Apany Village, Okidi Parish, Atiak Sub-county.
The operation was spearheaded by the Auru Resident District Commissioner, Ms Agness Linda Auma.
The Amuru District chairperson, Mr Michael Lakony, said several camps have been erected in different parts of the district which are used as hiding grounds for charcoal dealers and timber loggers.
He noted that the camp they raided had some 520 individuals who cut down trees for either charcoal or timber.
“This operation will not stop. We have noticed that these camps have made it easy for the illegal charcoal dealers and loggers to hide from security personnel and district officials while they destroy the environment,” Mr Lakony said.
He said more camps have been identified in the parishes of Pogo, Got Arege, Lac mon, Olinga, Labala, Andara, Okojo and Apaa junction in Pabbo Sub-county and that they will be destroyed too.
He said the camps have also bred criminal activities such as robberies and prostitution which have increased insecurity and spread of HIV/Aids in the area.
Mr Lakony said the district has since stopped issuance of permits for charcoal traders, adding that any charcoal impounded will not be auctioned but rather set ablaze.
“We had been auctioning impounded charcoal in the past but we found that once they are sold, they end up in the hands of the dealers, so we shall just burn them,” Mr Lakony said.
Mr Ezekiel Emitu, the Aswa River Region Police Commander, said the ongoing operation will help curb environmental degradation which is on high scale in Amuru District.
He said despite several campaigns the police and local leaders held warning those dealing in charcoal and log trade to back off, they never heeded to their calls.
He noted that those arrested will be scrutinised and that those found to be workers will be set free while the owners of the charcoal businesses will be charged and arraigned in court in contravention of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003.