MPs question legality of ban on lumbering

By Henry Sekanjako

The Parliament’s committee on Natural resources has questioned the legality under which the environment Minister Maria Mutagamba issued a ban on lumbering in the country for the next three years.

The committee chaired by Bungokho South MP Michael Werikhe expressed concern that the suspension of timber harvesting may result into loss of taxpayer’s money by government through compensations to licensed timber dealers.

Speaking during a meeting with Mutagamba on Thursday at Parliament, Werikhe noted that the minister did not follow any law in executing the timber ban which may result into compensation claims by the affected traders.

“She is not permitted by any law to suspend or issue any public order regarding forestry operations. This is a serious undertaking which may have financial implications to government since many of the traders have running permits,” Werikhe said.

He added that; “If you slam such a ban which is not in accordance with the law you may cause problems to government”.

The committee asked the minister to provide them with Cabinet minutes or an order from the attorney general directing her to suspend timber harvesting or else she lifts the ban with immediate effect to avoid legal implications.

However, Mutagamba insisted that most of the timber traders were in agreement with the ban saying the move would help check fake traders in the industry.

“We met with the traders last week and they agreed with this ban, there is no way we can lift it. We have asked all the timber traders to come for license verification before they can resume their work,” Mutagamba stated.

 The minister told the committee that Section 45 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003 empowers her as the line minister to halt any forestry activities.

Section 45 provides that the minister may, on the advice of the authority and lead agencies, by statutory order prohibit or restrict the movement by any person of forest produce for such periods in such areas and on such terms as may be specified in the order.

Mutagamba also told the MPs that she had worked with the National forestry Authority (NFA) before halting timber harvesting in the country.

She said the 14-day grace period that was given to timber dealers to transport the already harvested timber expired on Tuesday.

The ministry had already embarked on verifying licenses for timber traders countrywide, she noted.