Parliamentary committee raises alarm over destruction of Zoka Central Forest Reserve
Zoka Central Forest Reserve covers about 6,089 hectares and is described as the only natural high forest in northern Uganda
ADJUMANI, August 24, 2026 – Parliament’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has raised concern over the alarming level of degradation in Zoka Central Forest Reserve in Adjumani district, following a fact-finding visit to assess the extent of destruction and the challenges facing the protected area.
The committee, led by Chairperson Dan Kimosho and Deputy Chairperson Ann Nankabirwa, visited Zoka Central Forest Reserve alongside Adjumani District LCV Chairperson John Anyanzo Ambayo, district councillors, police, district technical officers, cultural leaders, civil society [Friends of Zoka] and members of the community.
The visit exposed extensive human activity inside the reserve, including illegal logging, charcoal burning, farming and encroachment. The committee also found makeshift structures reportedly being used by illegal loggers and charcoal dealers, with women and children seen inside some of the settlements.
In one of the structures, Members of Parliament [MPs] questioned a woman found inside as they sought to establish how people had established themselves within the gazetted forest.
The MPs also encountered army detachments within and around the forest, prompting questions over the effectiveness of security arrangements in protecting the reserve from illegal activities.
Adjumani East MP James Mamawi questioned why illegal logging, charcoal burning and other activities were continuing despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
Mamawi said the committee first encountered an army barracks at Zoka C and later found another small army unit inside the forest. He questioned why illegal activities could persist along roads and in areas where security personnel were stationed.
He said the situation appeared to reflect a gap in responsibility among the different institutions mandated to protect government assets and conservation areas.
“Everybody is running away from his or her responsibilities,” Mamawi said, arguing that the situation suggested that security arrangements around the forest had been compromised.
He said although the National Forestry Authority and the Ministry of Water and Environment are directly responsible for the forest, security agencies also have a responsibility to protect government property and support conservation efforts.
However, Nathan Lubowa, the Brigade Intelligence Officer of the 501 Brigade, who was part of the committee’s visit, rejected allegations that the UPDF had been compromised.
Lubowa described the claims as unverified allegations and said the army protects conservation areas in collaboration with institutions directly responsible for them, including the National Forestry Authority and Uganda Wildlife Authority.
He said the UPDF has evidence to demonstrate its efforts to protect the forest and that security agencies act when concerns are formally reported to them by the responsible conservation authorities.
Meanwhile, committee member Jamal Yagalachi, also MP for Bukooli North and Shadow Minister for Water and Environment, expressed disappointment over the destruction of Zoka Central Forest Reserve despite the presence of security personnel.
Yagalachi, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, questioned the failure to prevent the continued degradation of the forest and called for greater accountability from institutions involved in its protection.
The committee was also briefed by Friends of Zoka about several challenges affecting the reserve. Team leader William Amanzuru identified illegal timber trade, alleged militarisation of the timber business, politicisation, land disputes, threats against environmental human rights defenders and unclear forest boundaries among the major challenges.
Amanzuru said unmarked boundaries have contributed to encroachment and appealed to the committee to ensure that the boundaries of Zoka Central Forest Reserve are opened and clearly marked.
He also called for stronger enforcement of environmental laws, increased funding for conservation agencies, specialised environmental courts, tougher penalties for nature crimes and greater political commitment to protecting the forest.
Nwoya District MP Denis Opio Geoffrey, another committee member, called for government intervention in the Apaa land conflict, saying the dispute is undermining efforts to protect Zoka Central Forest Reserve.
Opio also challenged Adjumani District Local Government to account for measures it has taken to protect the reserve and address the challenges contributing to its degradation.
District report details extent of pressure
A memorandum from Adjumani district Chairperson John Anyanzo Ambayo presented to the committee provides additional context on the condition of Zoka Central Forest Reserve.
Zoka Central Forest Reserve covers about 6,089 hectares and is described as the only natural high forest in northern Uganda. The reserve is also identified as an important biodiversity area and a critical water catchment, with rivers and streams including the Zoka, Itirikwa and Esia originating from the forest before flowing into the Nile.
The district report identifies encroachment, illegal timber and charcoal extraction, agricultural expansion, boundary disputes, weak law enforcement, inadequate staffing and logistics, fragmented coordination among institutions, demographic pressure and widespread poverty as major factors driving degradation of the reserve.
The report further indicates that forest loss attributed to subsistence farming increased from 530 hectares in 2018 to 1,044 hectares in 2026. It says communities have continued to clear forest land for cultivation, while valuable tree species such as mahogany, Afzelia and mvule are targeted for timber and charcoal production.
The district says it and its partners have undertaken patrols, arrests, community sensitisation, agroforestry, farmer-managed natural regeneration and beekeeping interventions. It also reports that 3,023.5 hectares of private land have been restored and that 329 beehives were distributed to farmers as part of alternative livelihood initiatives.
The district memorandum says these interventions have contributed to reductions in illegal activities and improved community awareness, while also highlighting continued challenges related to inadequate funding, staffing, transport, unclear boundaries, land conflicts, weak enforcement and political interference.
Among its recommendations, the district calls for the central government to demarcate the reserve boundaries and evict encroachers, provide staff quarters and tourism infrastructure, deploy dedicated security personnel, promote alternative livelihoods, strengthen collaborative forest management and improve enforcement of environmental laws.
Kimosho pledges action
Despite the scale of destruction observed, Kimosho said he was encouraged that some sections of the forest remain intact.
He pledged to work with Adjumani district leaders and members of his committee to strengthen efforts to protect Zoka Central Forest Reserve.
Kimosho also said the committee would invite cultural leaders and selected district leaders to Parliament when it considers and discusses its report on the findings from the field visit.
The committee’s visit will inform recommendations on how the government can strengthen enforcement, address encroachment and land conflicts, clarify institutional responsibilities, and mobilise resources for the protection and restoration of Zoka Central Forest Reserve.
https://thecooperator.news/updf-accused-of-aiding-illegal-logging-and-charcoal-trade-in-zoka-forest/
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