Sub-county suspends licensing of charcoal dealers

PAKWACH – Due to environmental concerns, authorities in Alwi Sub-county in Pakwach district, have suspended issuing licenses to dealers who burn charcoal on the large scale for the market outside the district.

The suspension of licenses follows an ordinance passed by the Sub-county council to protect the remaining natural trees which are currently in danger of being wiped out.

Leaders noted that Alwi Sub-county used to have thick natural forests but due to charcoal burning and timber businesses, most of the natural trees have been cut down. leaving the ground bare.

The sub-county chairperson, Ronald Odia said the suspension of the charcoal license will scale down the rate at which the business is depleting the local environment, particularly the cutting down of the trees.

Odia  said: “Much as people are reaping from the charcoal business, they seem to have forgotten that there is an existing government policy prohibiting the cutting down of trees for large scale for charcoal.”

However, locals in the area say the suspension of licenses for charcoal burning has increased the price of charcoal, even though those still in the business say the charcoal business has become lucrative.

Mary Acune, a charcoal seller in Patenga trading centre, Alwi Sub-county said a price of a bag in the villages has risen to Shs 40, 000 from Shs 25,000 while it sells at Shs 48,000 in the nearby towns.

Alwi Sub-county is located along the Pakwach-Kampala Highway where travelers stop to buy charcoal. The high demand was forcing traders in the area to cut down natural trees on the daily basis for charcoal burning.

Moses Otim, an environmental activist working with Pakwach Youth Junction, a community-based organisation, said they are restoring the environment by planting more trees in partnership with Pakwach district leaders.

He said charcoal burning in the sub-counties of Alwi and Pukwero, all in Pakwach district, has destroyed the environment there, putting the lives of future generations in danger.

Otim said over 10 tonnes of charcoal are transported to Kampala weekly from the sub-counties of Alwi and Pukero.  Currently, he said, no lorry is being allowed to transport large quantities of charcoal outside of Pakwach district.

He accused residents of not caring to plant more trees, much as they are cutting mature ones. “There is no compliance with government policy of tree planting in our communities which continues to endanger our environment. This is worsened by the fact that the residents are cutting mature ones,” he said.

He urged authorities not to issue travel permits to charcoal dealers, arguing that it will help stop the felling of trees in the district.

https://thecooperator.news/over-shs-60mln-in-fines-collected-from-illegal-charcoal-dealers/

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