Ministerial directive on charcoal ban lacks clear guidelines, says police boss

GULU– The lack of clear guidelines is frustrating the implementation of a recent directive by the Ministry of Environment and Water against charcoal business in Northern Uganda.

The State Minister for Environment and Water, Beatrice Atim Anywar issued a twin directive in January and February banning charcoal business in the region to protect forests.

Minister Anywar in her letter dated January 11, 2023, tasked the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Water, the executive director the National Forestry Authority [NFA], the Aswa regional police commander and the leadership of Gulu Local Government to oversee the implementation of the new directive.

A similar directive was issued in February for total ban on the logging and charcoal businesses, making some of the environmental activists in the region to immediately begin impounding trucks carrying charcoal, timber and logs.

However, some of the activists have been dragged to court on charges of malicious damage after they impounded trucks, following Minister Anywar’s directive.

For instance, vigilantes led by the Former Aruu County Member of Parliament, Sammuel Odonga Otto and Kilak South Member of Parliament, Gilbert Olanya are charged for malicious damage while eight youth are being remanded at Amuru Magistrate Court over impounding trucks carrying forest products.

Addressing Journalists on Friday in Gulu, the deputy Inspector General of Police, Geoffrey Tumusiime noted that the ministerial directives do not have clear guidelines on implementation.

He explained that, once the minister has issued clear guidelines, police will enforce her directives.
“As police, we don’t have interest in the charcoal but we are still waiting for the clear guidelines from the minister on how we [police] should enforce the instruction,” he added.

In an earlier interview, the Aswa regional police public relations officer, David Ongom Mudong, noted that the minister’s directive does not provide details on how the enforcers should implement the ban on commercial charcoal burning and logging.

In a letter dated April 18, 2023, Dr Barirega Akankwasah, the National Environmental Management Authority [NEMA] executive director, said they have never issued any environmental and social impact assessment certificate to any of the commercial charcoal dealers, making the trade illegal in the country.

The letter equally directed Uganda Police, district local governments, NFA, and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute people found engaging in commercial charcoal production.

The NEMA Act, No.5 of 2019 Schedule 5, lists commercial charcoal production as an activity that requires mandatory ESIA. It is an offence under Section 157 of the Act to commence an activity which requires ESIA before obtaining a certificate of approval from NEMA.

The Act further stipulates that any convicted individual attracts a fine not exceeding Shs 2 billion or imprisonment not exceeding fifteen years or both, meanwhile, any corporate body attracts a fine not exceeding Shs 10bln.

https://thecooperator.news/commercial-charcoal-burning-is-illegal-in-uganda-says-nema-boss/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news