UGANDA: $ 5.10M WORLD BANK GRANTS REVITALIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL & AFFORESTATION IS SOCIAL EVIL

$ 5.10 million grants to the Uganda government given to the Ministry of Agriculture Animals and Fishery for revitalization of Agriculture, smart climate irrigation used by the Uganda government for forest mitigation, the funds instead become lucrative in Northern Uganda for enrolment destruction.

The top brass of Uganda political icons includes General Kainda Otafire, president Museveni’s Brother Gen. Salim Saleh, Uganda People Defense Forces generals, officials from the ministry of Environment, and relatives of former Inspector General of  IGP police forces are heavily been in the centre of charcoal  dealing in northern Uganda.

Sheik Al-Hajji Musa Kardi Kalil, Acholi Muslim kardi, says in 1972, when they escaped with his brother from Sub County, at my Uncle place in Paicho, it was at 8.00AM local African time. When we reach Abera forest fear grabbed us because we could not see light, everything was dark only you could see star. However, Abera forest is no more as. 

GULU CITY-THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024.

 Okumu Livingstone Langol (The Guardian News UK)

Member of Acholi Parliamentary Groups (APG), are up in battle to fight environmental invader in Northern Uganda, the MP are accusing top Uganda government officials, especially Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF),

The Acholi Parliamentary Groups they are pointing at top Commanders including ministry of Agriculture, animals and fishery of diverting $ 5.10, the World Bank funds grants meant for climate mitigation, says the funds are directly used for forest degradation.

“The government of Uganda has turned blind eyes on lucrative 1 million shea nut trees (Black gold of Northern Uganda), and indigenous tress which was inhabitants of Aswa ranch covering Pader, Lamwo and Kitgum districts in Northern Uganda as Uganda Livestock Industry gives land to Uganda Prison. President Museveni opened Maize, Soybeans farms, the former Members of Parliament from Western Uganda t for Agricultural commercials farming in the ranch”

Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the MP for Gulu City Division Layibi-Bardege Division after the Regional Parliamentary sitting that took place on August 28-30, 2024.  The next day, Saturday, August 31, 2024 addressed Members of Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC), revealed that   World Bank funding was diverted to open Uganda Government Prison Farms in Aswa Ranch.

In 2020 when drought happened and affected rain patterns in East Africans countries, Uganda as a country was also bearing the brunt; president Museveni ordered Uganda Prison and gave them 10,000 acres of land in Aswa Ranch.

When Uganda Prison farmers went to Aswa Ranch in 2022, they used bulldozers to clear 100,000 acres of shea nut trees and indigenous trees like Afzelia Africana, without considering that the shea nut trees are endangered tree species.” Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi commented

For years since the guns fell silent from Northern Uganda, the UPDF commander has embark on timber logging, trees cutting for charcoal business which Aswa Ranch was not exclusives under the environmental degradation in Aswa Ranch and in Acholi Sub Region has become lucrative booming trade that has attracted the market of the East African steel industries, especially Kenya Steel Industry is exporting Charcoal from Northern Uganda to feed her steel industry productions. The same charcoal trade also gets their route to the United Arab Emirate, UAE and Saudi Arabia also is exporting Charcoal from Northern Uganda, involving high profiles government bureaucracy including UPDF generals and former Inspector General of Police daughter.” Hon. Martin Ojara mooted.

Lazarus Obbo, the former Chairman Local Councilor 3 of Angagura Sub County, Pader District an eyes witness has a story to tell. Obbo says in past Aswa Ranch was a food basket for Shea Nut butter, the surrounding communities that border the ranch used to collect shea nut butter from the ranch. Although the ranch was still under Uganda Livestock Industry, shea nut trees were left and not a single tree was destroyed.

However, in 2022/2023, Uganda Prison went and open farm in Obwol-Odeya village in Aswa ranch which in Goma hill, still under Angagura Sub County, part of the Prison farm cover Laguti Sub County and Abera Sub County, all the shea nut trees has cleared up by Bull Dodger to open up farms.

Later on the Prison department planted Maize; Soya beans as part of Prison farm in Ajan Sub County took them two years. Part of Aswa ranch was given to National Agriculture Research Institute (NAGRI), BANUTI, Aswa, and River Power Energy (ARPE). Generally what has happened is that all the projects enter Aswa ranch without community sensitization

, quantization cannot take place within one month but with time.

 

“If the community is not aware of the project, the project becomes negative. It’s useless proper sanitizations were not made, otherwise the community would have told them that we have indigenous trees and shea nut trees should tell them not to cut down or destroy shea nut trees. The investors and the government institutions that they entered Aswa ranch they even cut traditional cultural tree Afzelia Africana.”

Oryema, the protector and Director of Acholi Broadcasting Services (NBS), hailed from Angagura Sub County live in worry and trauma as shea nut trees in Aswa ranch are slowly being destroyed day by day by the power that be.

Oryema worry stimulates from the fear of the future of the younger generation of the new born  Angagura Sub County who will never be able to see “African black gold shea nut butter” million of shea nut trees the in habitant perennial trees manner dropped by God to feed his people, Oryema decried.

“Surely the aliens come and systematically mooed down our shea nut trees one by one as our leaders gleefully watches, I know there are those government officials and some individuals sons and daughters from the soil who have turned against the Acholi community to work with those so called investors and UPDF generals to re-enforces shea nut trees destruction in Aswa ranch, turning African back gold into lucrative charcoal dealer and indigenous cultural African Afzelia trees. But, time will tell, God’s plan for mortal beings will not stop.

For now, the Acholi traditional cultural leaders has taken up the mentor to investigate the perpetrators who are behind the Aswa ranch shea nit trees cutting, last week on Wednesday August, 18,2024. The Acholi traditional cultural leadership of Payira council of chief has met the Pader District Chairman, the District Environment Officer and Pader District Councilors in a closed door meeting as part of investigation, and tomorrow Wednesday September 25, 2024, we are going to meet Pader Residence District (RDC), Pader chief Administrative Officer in a fact finding.

“For now the perpetrators are getting the pinch.”   Oryema opening decried for the lost glory of (mo yaa) shea nut butter, locally known. Shea butter oil was not only known as people used it for cooking food. But, most importantly when a new baby is born, before applying body lotion, the mother just smears shea butter oil in her hand and powders shea butter oil in a warm washing calabash. Deep the newborn baby into the water, and massaging the baby, before she finishes washing the kid, the baby would have fallen asleep.” Oryema decried.

Dr. Kenneth Omona, the state minister for Northern Uganda in May, 2024. By the time he was posted to Northern Uganda, vowed to put an end to tree cutting. During tree planting launchson says our trees are history, medicine, culture when the down pourer occurs, if you don t have trees you will be swimming in flood, so let us protect our trees.

The state Minister for Northern Uganda suppressed everyone with his remark, when he said the British Prime Minister, when he reached Uganda on 16, August 1907, my  African journey to Africa, Churchill when he reached Uganda he described it as a pearl of Africa.

This month of August 16, was my birth day, when I went to Nwoya district, to my place  I have planted 100 seedling of (Beyo) Afzelia Africana, it has been found that when people have trees like Beyo, Mahogany there is no mental problem.

“{This is when the community learn the culture of development and has transformation when you don’t know the spices of trees your language then the culture is dead, for those who are cutting down our trees and destroying our shea nut trees let them know” Dr. Kenneth Omona wondered.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo Chigamoi says what defeat me from your ministry of Water and Environment; the law which was made in 2021 on Environment, the law was good. If anything the law says the ordinary person can sue District Residence Commissioner by not taking the action on Environmental degradation that has been taking place in Northern Uganda.

“When Hon Odonga Otto was running around, I told him why you can go to the source where trees are being cut, we have called names shame.” Chief Justice Owiny Dollo argued.

We in (Roco Paco), society revival, me and my brother Amb. Dr. Olara Otunnu Roco Paco is revival of our society, issues of tree cutting. Yesterday we met Gen Salim Saleh, the younger brother to President Museveni, we quarrel that why can we talk about wealth creation which dealt with environmental degradation.

In Adlilang me and one Rwot we went motor- cycle we found that the trees are being cut kilo meters and kilo meters. The owner of the land does not know that he is losing value of wealth, they are getting little money.

“In the past in Patongo Sub County when we were growing there was stream around our homestead which has Frogs that would announced the coming of the rain, they would make loud crying, but for us as young kids we thought that the Frogs was making noise, yet they were forewarning us about rainfall. “In Aswa encashment they are going to cutting the trees”

And what surprised me, the next 50 meter homestead next to our home; we could not even see, but now no more grasses and tree plantation.”Chief Justice Owiny Dollo decried.

Adds on then this new invitation called Balaalo, and the Karamojong, whenever, I go I get the Balaalo issues of cutting and destroying trees in Aswa Ranch, is what is called Aswa Ranch, they have been cutting down trees that those trees are being ferry in the death of the night.

The trail of cry on forest degradation    

Anthony Labeja, Bolo clan leader in-charge of land, on Friday, August 30, 2024. In an operation smoked out by UPDF Captain Kiyenge Salongo and other two associates from Lakim village, Odek Sub County, the tree charcoal dealers has destroyed 10 acres of land. Chairman, Mr. Labeja, before chasing them, orders them to sign letter to indicate that the tree charcoal dealers had uncrossed and trespassed on the land of the Aboga Marina family.

“Me as the chairman of Bolo clan, I have authority now to order you from now on that you have to leave this home immediately, failure to follow my order, we are going to arrest you and hand you over to Omoro District Environmental officers and you will be prosecuted according to environmental Act.” Mr. Labeja warned.

Salongo Kiyenge pleaded that he wants to pay the money for compensation because he agreed that he had trespassed.

 

“I have made the mistake of destroying the environment in this area, but let us stay only tonight since it is raining, and we have nowhere to go.” Salongo pleaded.

Anthony Opwa, the former Local Councilor of Lakim village, who allowed Salongo Kiyenge, pleaded guilty for the mistake he had made. But, ask forgiveness.”

Ouma Geoffrey, says when he contacted Andrew Onyuk, Omoro Residence District commissioner, he was laughing off. Instead of helping him to re-enforced presidential Executive Order No. 3, June 20, 2023.

Christopher Oruka, 40 years old. Hailing from Owoo Sub County Gulu District, one of the most affected areas in Acholi Sub Region where brasses pump leaves, asked him how he become an environmental activist on advocacy  to stop charcoal business and alert the world on the danger of tree cutting in Northern Uganda?

Christopher Oruka, first the word Owoo means our place. The main physical feature of the area is covered with brass pump leaves. So the communities of Owoo Sub County were destroying all Brasses Pump, just cutting to make charcoal, and no one bothered to see that we are facing desertification.

Secondly, Uganda Constitutions very clearly give every citizen who knows that something being done wrongfully can rise up to advocate for the well being of the community, so long his action cannot lead to violence. Acholi Sub Region, we are rich in terms of tree diversity. Because of my love for the environment, I have started to stop tree cutting and charcoal trade.

We have to speak on behalf of the voiceless, the affected communities who are suffering as a result of environmental dilapidation, people are doing exploitation, and beside that we don’t have leaders who can talk, both elected and opinion leaders they have been engaged in corruption.

When did you start the campaign against tree cutting?

Early last year, in 2023. Before the government of Uganda came up with Executive Order number 3, June 20, 2023. I started my environmental activism from Owoo Sub County where I live because in Owoo Sub County about Seven sq kilometers, all brass pump leaves have been destroyed.

When you go to Pata Lira village and Adak village there was rampant cutting down of brasses pumped by the ingenious community, what was their motive; it was only for money as the poverty rule over the rural setting. Because the income they get from cutting down brasses leaves the communities sell them for ruffling, and for Honey bees.

Am very happy now when you go to Owoo Sub County, Gulu District, and Northern Uganda. You will see changes as part of my advocacy, what we have in  mind is sensitization for people to get a mindset change.

However, in 2023, when president Museveni issued Presidential Executive Order Number 3, June 20, 2023, banning charcoal trade in North-Eastern Uganda. When Dr. Otto Odonga, the former MP for Aruu South County, Pader District, stepped up the campaign of stopping charcoal trade and trees cutting in Acholi Sub Region, I joined him in becoming an environmental social activist.

“We went and stopped more than 200,000 begs of charcoal which was flying Gulu-Kampala road. We mounted the roadblock to arrested Lorries and trucks in the hot spot like Amuru District, Paibona, Palaro Omel Apem Sub Counties in Gulu District, we also put road block in Angagura Sub County in Pader District to arrest charcoal dealers traversing East Acholi.”

During our operation we found one notorious Gen. Kainde Otafire, son with 14 trailers trucks, we detained the trucks, and when we interrogated the person he disclosed that he is Nephew of Gen. Otafire. And also got a lady called Oliver, of Tiifa Agent in Omel Apem, Paicho Sub County,Gulu district the woman is the daughter of former Inspector General of Police IGP, Okoth Ochola .

I have done fact checking myself in Patiko Pawel Paloco village, there is a guy coming from Pabbo Sub County called Kwezira Moses, we arrested him with other six people, when we took him to Burcoro Police Station, Awach Gulu District Headquarter because he cleared 10 acres of Shea butter trees in Pawel Patoko village he was released by District Police Commander DPC of Gulu District.

Challenges which we the environmental social activists face, Gombola Intelligence Security Officer GISO and the Local Councilors 3, including District Chairman they are the agent of charcoal traders in Northern Uganda.

Also Environmental Social Activists, their work is being hindered by Forest Rangers who work in the field, they behave as District National Forces Authority, instead of implementing the government policy, and they are the one promoting trees cutting and charcoal trade.

 

CAPTION

 

Government of Uganda paying depth.

The government of Uganda is paying depth as we talk now. They are not doing enough. A few people are deployed to craft the charcoal business. No transport means available to support police Environmental Units who are suppose to stop the charcoal business

The government of Uganda reallocated small budgets for the district officer and the National Forest Authority who are in-charge of the 8 districts in Northern Uganda. Environmental Social Activists decried these silent programs from the government to shield and protect the top government personalities whose relatives have been engaged in tree cutting and charcoal trade in Northern Uganda.

Amuru District, northern Uganda is the most hit by the charcoal trade, from the hierarchy Amuru Residence District Commissioner RDC, from top to bottom, they are involved in charcoal trade.

The likes of National Forest Authority, NFA in the region they are in charcoal dealing, and the UPDF officer called Kakonge who is supposed to mind road block in Karuma bridge 120 kilometers South of Gulu City, the rout passages of charcoal to Central and Southern Uganda he is based in Akurukwe road block 10 kilometer West of Gulu City, the lucrative charcoal hub in the region.

Lt. Kakonge is the UPDF Commander based in Gulu 4^TH UPDF barrack is the Commandant in-charge of Environmental protection, they are engaged in charcoal dealers.

There is lack of sensitization to communities on the danger of environmental mitigation and on the important trees and spices which are being destroyed. Tree spices like Shea Butter tree, Beyo tree, Kango tree, Yago tree, Olam tree, Oduru tree, Oput tree. There is rampant tree cutting, our community should have been sensitized on the impact and cost effect of tree cutting.

Sensitization is zero, political awareness within community in Northern Uganda on the impact of environment is zero, the biggest challenges, even those people at the grass roots they don’t speaks one voice, a person at the grass roots who sell his or trees for charcoal trade only need small token, some money like UGX 1.5 million for the all forest near his home, and yet the charcoal traders buy, he will have almost 10 lorries trucks.

“You find Gulu District Local Government is basing on the revenue collected from charcoal trade and above all, the forest rangers are making their own receipts, where we have reach stopping charcoal business from Acholi Sub Region has become nightmare, we are doing postmortem on charcoal trade.”

In the past, the media platform they were advocating for the environmental degradation, media houses are not reporting the current situation of environmental degradation in the region.

We have to sensitize the communities in Northern Uganda, to make matters worse, the community who are selling charcoal, there is no change from their status quo, you cannot point out that this man who has sold 100 acres of trees, he has built this Manson, or constructed permanent residence.

When you ask the community who are trading in charcoal, why do they cut their tree, they will resort to saying that because of poverty, they don’t have money to pay school fees. Can you imagine?

Christopher Oruka, in conclusion, argued that in actual sense, in the past the people who were trading in charcoal, those who do not have women, lived desperate lives, they came from a poor household.

In summary, environmental law on charcoal trade is very weak, and does not give a penalty according to the felony being committed on environmental degradation. The law says once arrested on charcoal business, the person will pay money according to UGX 20,000 current point, which means the penalty is UGX 1 million, compared to a lorry truck which carries over 250 bags of charcoal worth UGX 10 million.

The culprit will pay his way and walk free from the dungeon of dreaded custody.

Arthur Owor, environmental expert and Social Activist on environmental our tree we need answer based in Northern Uganda, Gulu City  says the region is witnessing an increase in environmental crimes being manifested through massive cutting of trees in the region.

“The crimes of the environment are being driven by neoliberal forces and economics are working in collusion to profiteer from massive capitalist extraction of trees in the region for charcoal and timber” Arthur Owor lamented.

CAPTION bellow, UPDF officers who are minding road block at Karuma bridge are inspecting charcoal track, and later on the escort the tracks to Kampala city.

All photos file copies