By Leilah Bbaale
The National Policy Committee on Environment has resolved to ban the export of timber and canceled all licenses and permits issued in this regard as one way of protecting the environment in the country for non-compliance.
This follows a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni dated June 21, 2023 instructing the prime minister to take action to reverse the worrying trends of forestry cover degradation.
According to the letter, the president was concerned that there is indiscriminate harvesting of forests in the country whether private or public in the guise of exporting it.
While communicating the resolutions of the meeting, the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja who chaired the meeting at the office of the Prime Minister says that the ban takes effect immediately.
Nabbanja says that all government law enforcement agencies are hereby instructed to implement the directive and whoever fails to comply shall be disciplined accordingly.
The state minister for environment Beatrice Anywar welcomed the directive issued by the president and promised to ensure that the order is implemented to the dot.
The minister for lands, housing and urban development Judith Nabakooba says that they have already begun investigating the titles that were issued in government forest reserves to comply with the presidential directive.
Dr. Edward Mukiza, the Director General Uganda Investment Authority says that Uganda is a bio-diversity country that should protect the environment even by the investors who come to the country.
Dr. Tom Obong Okello, the executive director National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Francis Sabino Ogwal, the Acting executive director National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) welcomed the presidential directive and pledged to implement it fully to save the country from deforestation.
Nabbanja says that all those having permits and licenses should abide by the directive and that the government has already put in place a legal team to address any issues that may arise as a result of the directive.
