NFA arrests suspect linked to robbery racket targeting forest product traders

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The National Forestry Authority (NFA) on Sunday (March 15) said its enforcement team had dismantled a criminal racket that had been staging illegal roadblocks and extorting millions of shillings from charcoal and forest product traders along major highways in Uganda.

The operation followed numerous complaints from members of the public alleging that individuals posing as NFA officials were stopping traders along the Gulu, Masaka and Jinja highways and demanding money.

Acting on the complaints, NFA top management deployed an enforcement team led by its police liaison officer, Francis Olugu, and NFA legal officer Sam Blick to patrol highways from Gulu up to Moyo.

NFA said that, following a tip-off, the team intercepted suspects in the Bombo-Kalule area while they had stopped a charcoal truck. One suspect, who identified himself as Sergeant Andrew Senyanzi and was wearing an army uniform, fled in a car. Two others, Lukyamuzi and Adam Shariff, who was wearing a reflector jacket labelled “NFA”, attempted to escape into nearby bushes.

“Olugu fired warning shots in the air to stop them. When they ignored the orders, he shot Adam Shariff in the foot, leading to his arrest. The suspect was taken to hospital and will later be presented to police to face robbery charges,” NFA said in a statement.

NFA noted that during interrogation by the NFA legal team, Shariff admitted that the group had been staging illegal roadblocks and extorting money from charcoal traders, including those with genuine licences. They reportedly used vehicles UBE 631D, a Toyota Ipsum, and UAN 595X, a Toyota Harrier.

Aldon Walukamba, communications and public relations manager at NFA, said the racket had damaged the authority’s image and identity.

“This criminal activity has dented the well-intentioned mandate of NFA. We call upon the public to work with us to eliminate such robbery and extortion targeting genuine forest product traders,” he said.

Walukamba added that NFA enforcement teams have recently arrested more than 300 illegal forest offenders in reserves such as Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Oriha Central Forest Reserve, Mount Kei, Kityerera, Jubiya Central Forest Reserve and Nsoowe Central Forest Reserve.

Many suspects have since been prosecuted in courts of law, with the cases widely reported in national media outlets.

NFA said the crackdown will continue in order to protect traders and restore public confidence in forest governance.