The Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces 4 Infantry Division, Major General Felix Busizoori, has led a joint team of security agencies and local leaders in distributing impounded charcoal to communities in Nwoya District.
The exercise followed a directive issued by Maj Gen Busizoori to repurpose charcoal seized from illegal dealers by distributing it to communities affected by the environmental damage associated with charcoal burning.
The charcoal was distributed to residents of Anaka Town Council and Agungu Village in Purongo Sub-county, Nwoya District.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Maj Gen Busizoori said the distribution was intended to support communities whose livelihoods and environment have been affected by deforestation caused by illegal charcoal burning.
“You are receiving this charcoal because your livelihoods and surroundings have been severely impacted by deforestation driven by illegal dealers,” he said.
He urged residents to take an active role in protecting the environment and conserving natural ecosystems, while calling for stronger cooperation between communities and security agencies in combating illegal logging and charcoal burning.
Maj Gen Busizoori encouraged residents to provide timely and actionable information to security agencies about individuals involved in illegal logging and charcoal burning in their areas.
The owners of the impounded charcoal were handed over to the Nwoya District Police Commander for prosecution.
The distribution exercise was conducted in collaboration with local government leaders and senior officers from the Uganda Police Force and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
