EDITOR—I would like to comment on the article, “1,200 illegal timber seized in Kibaale” published on November 16. Apparently, Kibaale has the highest rate of deforestation and encroachment on forest reserves countrywide.

Between 1990 and 2005, the district lost over 60,000 hectares of forests, according to National Forestry Authority report of 2008. This is an alarming rate and illegal pitsawyers who cut down the trees for timber and charcoal are partly to blame.

This disastrous trend has led to excessive deforestation which has worsened the weather conditions and led to severe soil erosion affecting agricultural productivity in the district. Thousands of residents are also starving following a long dry spell.

Forest officials should therefore crack down on illegal timber dealers and also check over-exploitation of the forests.

They should also launch operations and arrest all pit-sawyers who do not following the guideline of National Forest and Tree Planting Act 2003.
Patrick Abigaba
Makerere University