Court orders seized charcoal, timber to fund Bugoma conservation
Some of the suspects behind the illegal logging and charcoal burning fled, leaving authorities with large quantities of forest produce that had to be stored at the Kisindi Forest offices inside the reserve.
Some of the charcoal confiscated in Bugoma forest. (Photos by Julius Luwemba)
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More than 2,600 bags of charcoal and 1,700 pieces of timber seized from Bugoma Central Forest Reserve will no longer gather dust in government stores after court ordered their disposal, directing that the proceeds and materials be put to use in protecting the threatened forest.
In a conservation-minded ruling, the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court at Makindye ordered the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to sell most of the charcoal and channel the proceeds into safeguarding Bugoma Forest, while the seized timber will be used to make furniture and construct accommodation facilities for UWA staff working in the reserve.
The decision follows months of enforcement operations in which UWA rangers recovered forest products from suspected illegal activities between May and July this year.
Some of the suspects behind the illegal logging and charcoal burning fled, leaving authorities with large quantities of forest produce that had to be stored at the Kisindi Forest offices inside the reserve.
Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said the volume of forest produce recovered within such a short period was disturbing, describing Bugoma as a crucial biodiversity hotspot facing severe destruction from illegal logging, charcoal burning and encroachment.
"The seized forest produce is enormous," the magistrate observed in her ruling dated August 21, 2026.
A ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority showing the magnitude of tree cover lost to encroachment and deforestation in Bugoma central forest reserve.
UWA, represented by Annet Tuhaisomwe, the assistant commissioner for wildlife crime prosecutions, had applied to court for permission to dispose of the forest products after attempts to apprehend the suspects failed.
The Authority, relying on a sworn affidavit by Ali Luzinda, told the court that continued storage of the charcoal and timber was also generating additional costs. The court agreed that keeping the abandoned forest products indefinitely served little purpose, particularly since they were linked to crimes committed inside the forest.
Rather than allowing the disposal to become another loss to the conservation effort, the court directed that it should directly support the protection of Bugoma.
"The forest produce be disposed of in a manner that will help conserve the forest," Kamasanyu ruled.
Under the orders, UWA will sell the remaining charcoal after setting aside 50 bags for the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, where it will be used to prepare porridge for inmates.
Meanwhile, all the timber will be used to make furniture and construct accommodation for UWA employees.
Last month, New Vision reported that UWA had arrested 336 suspects, seizing 3,721 bags of charcoal and 697 pieces of illegally harvested timber, as well as impounding 31 motor vehicles and 14 motorcycles used to transport the illegally harvested forest products.
Other confiscated items included seven power-saws, two hand-saws, 11 axes, 97 pangas, 68 hoes, 67 spades and 15 forked hoes, all impounded over three months.
Following the court ruling, Bashir Hangi, the UWA spokesperson, noted that whereas several suspects were undergoing court proceedings, the real owners of the confiscated contraband remained elusive.
"So, we went to court mainly to seek an order on the disposal of the charcoal and timber. Other items remain exhibits," Hangi explained.
UWA formally assumed responsibility for protecting and managing Bugoma on May 9, 2026, following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni. The forest was officially handed over to the authority by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during a ceremony in Kikuube District.
The takeover followed reports of extensive forest degradation caused by illegal charcoal production, commercial timber harvesting, agricultural encroachment, sugarcane cultivation and other unlawful activities.
Immediately after the handover, UWA deployed a multidisciplinary team comprising law enforcement personnel, intelligence officers and field support staff.
The operations covered major hotspots including Nsozi, Nyairongo, Nyakabale, Kaseeta, Ngogoli, Nyampindu, Wairagaza, Kisindi, Maratatu and Kabale in Kikuube, Hoima and Masindi districts.