Timber loggers attack forestry officials
Jun 25, 2009
ILLEGAL timber loggers in Bufumbe central forest reserve in Buikwe, Mukono district, on Wednesday attacked forestry officials who tried to arrest them, severely injuring one.
By Vision Reporters
ILLEGAL timber loggers in Bufumbe central forest reserve in Buikwe, Mukono district, on Wednesday attacked forestry officials who tried to arrest them, severely injuring one.
Environment minister Jessica Eriyo said in Parliament yesterday that the officials of the National Forest Authority (NFA) had just arrested three suspects, two for felling timber and another for farming in the reserve.
“Before the reinforcement could come, the culprits attacked the forest officers, sent them in disarray and an NFA vehicle was set ablaze,†the minister said.
Ambrose Tibarimu, the driver, was severely hacked and left for dead while his four colleagues fled and hid in the forest.
Tibarimu was saved by the Police from Kiyindi landing site. He was rushed to a nearby clinic before being transferred to St. Francis Hospital Nsambya.
According to the forest supervisor, Abdul Kulabako, who survived the attack, they were tipped off by Mukono RDC David Matovu. The RDC had detected illegal timber cutting and charcoal burning in the reserve on Tuesday while attending a meeting in a nearby village.
The illegal loggers mobilised villagers, including mourners, at the edge of the forest. “After realising that we were outnumbered by the mob, we ran further into the forest,†Kulabako said.
The mob then descended upon the driver, cutting him three times in the leg and six times in the head.
“They were planning to burn him, together with the car, but they thought he was dead and abondoned him in the forest.â€
Yesterday, the Police, backed by the army and district intelligence officers, rounded up some of the suspects. By press time, several of them were in custody at Kiyindi Police post.
The incident follows another one in January where two forest officers, Alfred Ezati and Emmanuel Asimwe, were hacked to death in Masaka. Violent attacks on NFA officials have in the past also occurred in South Busoga forest reserve.
During the debate, MP Lulume Bayiga (DP), who represents Buikwe South, said illegal lumber jerks are destroying the environment under the patronage of powerful people in the army.
“Big people in the army and elsewhere empower them,†he reported.
ILLEGAL timber loggers in Bufumbe central forest reserve in Buikwe, Mukono district, on Wednesday attacked forestry officials who tried to arrest them, severely injuring one.
Environment minister Jessica Eriyo said in Parliament yesterday that the officials of the National Forest Authority (NFA) had just arrested three suspects, two for felling timber and another for farming in the reserve.
“Before the reinforcement could come, the culprits attacked the forest officers, sent them in disarray and an NFA vehicle was set ablaze,†the minister said.
Ambrose Tibarimu, the driver, was severely hacked and left for dead while his four colleagues fled and hid in the forest.
Tibarimu was saved by the Police from Kiyindi landing site. He was rushed to a nearby clinic before being transferred to St. Francis Hospital Nsambya.
According to the forest supervisor, Abdul Kulabako, who survived the attack, they were tipped off by Mukono RDC David Matovu. The RDC had detected illegal timber cutting and charcoal burning in the reserve on Tuesday while attending a meeting in a nearby village.
The illegal loggers mobilised villagers, including mourners, at the edge of the forest. “After realising that we were outnumbered by the mob, we ran further into the forest,†Kulabako said.
The mob then descended upon the driver, cutting him three times in the leg and six times in the head.
“They were planning to burn him, together with the car, but they thought he was dead and abondoned him in the forest.â€
Yesterday, the Police, backed by the army and district intelligence officers, rounded up some of the suspects. By press time, several of them were in custody at Kiyindi Police post.
The incident follows another one in January where two forest officers, Alfred Ezati and Emmanuel Asimwe, were hacked to death in Masaka. Violent attacks on NFA officials have in the past also occurred in South Busoga forest reserve.
During the debate, MP Lulume Bayiga (DP), who represents Buikwe South, said illegal lumber jerks are destroying the environment under the patronage of powerful people in the army.
“Big people in the army and elsewhere empower them,†he reported.