By Peter Abanabasazi
The National Forest Authority has detained the Parish Priest of Rwemisanga Catholic Parish over allegations of encroaching on Bugoma forest reserve land in Kikuube district and illegally cutting timber from the protected natural forest.
Alex Obonyo, the NFA Kisindi Sector Manager says that the suspect whom he only identified as Fr. Rodgers was arrested from his timber yard at Rwemisanga parish by a team of NFA officials on Sunday.
He notes that the suspect together with his agents were found carrying timber from Bugoma forest reserve by informers who tipped off NFA officials.
According to Obonyo, before the arrest the informers led the NFA operation team where the suspect had kept the timber.
He notes that during the operation, they impounded over 400 pieces of timber of different tree species such as Mahogany and Muvule trees among others.
Obonyo adds that after the arrest, the suspect was transferred to NFA head offices in Kampala for further management.
