Bulisa RDC implicated in Budongo Forest logging
Feb 19, 2007
THE National Forestry Authority has implicated the RDC of Bulisa, Kato Matanda, in illegal logging in Budongo Forest Reserve.
By Gerald Tenywa
THE National Forestry Authority has implicated the RDC of Bulisa, Kato Matanda, in illegal logging in Budongo Forest Reserve.
This followed the discovery of a large consignment of illegal timber in his former residence in Masindi.
According to Samwiri rwabwogo, the head of the law enforcement unit of the forestry authority, over 200 illegal pieces of various species of timber were recovered at the Masindi house.
Matanda denied involvement. He claims that the timber was not his.
He said he had vacated the Government house in Masindi, where he used to be deputy RDC (resident district commissioner) before he was posted to Bulisa.
“I don’t know who is occupying that house. It is true that I deal in timber and I had a license from the National Forestry Authority. But I have nothing to do with the impounded timber,’’ he responded.
Five suspected illegal loggers were arrested at Kanyege village in Bulisa a week ago and taken to Masindi Police Station.
The arrest took a dramatic turn when the suspects confessed working for the RDC of Bulisa.
“They led the team to his (Matanda’s) former home, where the timber was recovered,†Rwabwogo said.
He added that Government officials secretly benefit from the activities of illegal loggers and dealers. “Politicians give incentives to the illegal loggers to deplete Budongo forest reserve,†he asserted.
The timber was felled from a part of the forest which should not be touched because it contains mother trees, which are also important for research.
A ban was imposed on cutting mahogany in the Government-run forest reserves two decades ago but this has not curtailed the depletion of the protected trees.
THE National Forestry Authority has implicated the RDC of Bulisa, Kato Matanda, in illegal logging in Budongo Forest Reserve.
This followed the discovery of a large consignment of illegal timber in his former residence in Masindi.
According to Samwiri rwabwogo, the head of the law enforcement unit of the forestry authority, over 200 illegal pieces of various species of timber were recovered at the Masindi house.
Matanda denied involvement. He claims that the timber was not his.
He said he had vacated the Government house in Masindi, where he used to be deputy RDC (resident district commissioner) before he was posted to Bulisa.
“I don’t know who is occupying that house. It is true that I deal in timber and I had a license from the National Forestry Authority. But I have nothing to do with the impounded timber,’’ he responded.
Five suspected illegal loggers were arrested at Kanyege village in Bulisa a week ago and taken to Masindi Police Station.
The arrest took a dramatic turn when the suspects confessed working for the RDC of Bulisa.
“They led the team to his (Matanda’s) former home, where the timber was recovered,†Rwabwogo said.
He added that Government officials secretly benefit from the activities of illegal loggers and dealers. “Politicians give incentives to the illegal loggers to deplete Budongo forest reserve,†he asserted.
The timber was felled from a part of the forest which should not be touched because it contains mother trees, which are also important for research.
A ban was imposed on cutting mahogany in the Government-run forest reserves two decades ago but this has not curtailed the depletion of the protected trees.