Fake timber hits market as dealers rush to meet demand

May 06, 2013

As the demand and prices for building materials continue to surge, timber dealers have shifted their marketing strategies to serve the large market, hence compromising on quality.

By Samuel Balagadde

As the demand and prices for building materials continue to surge, timber dealers have shifted their marketing strategies to serve the large market, hence compromising on quality. 

Located in the city centre, Mengo – Kisenyi, once known as a hub for steel products, is now a source for various timber species, but if the  buyer is not keen enough, he may end up being duped.

Dealers purchase low quality timber from Ndeeba, a city suburb, at below the market price and sell it at a relatively higher price in Kisenyi. This timber is usually undersized and deformed.

Godfrey Sembembe, a carpenter in Kisenyi, says there are various categories of timber in Kisenyi, including that of good and low quality and that from demolished structures. He, however, says some dealers are not transparent enough to tell their customers whether the timber is genuine or not. “They may give you soft wood like Kirundu, which is meant for lighter construction works, instead of the hard wood,” Sembembe added.

Faisal Agaba, a timber dealer in Ndeeba, said some developers are fl eeced by middlemen who opt for cheap, weak timber in order to save some money. “Prices of timber vary, depending on the species, size and quality. It is advisable to use experts in identifying the right timber for a specifi c purpose,” says Agaba.

Frederick Kizza, a timber dealer in Bwaise, says nowadays, the market is awash with poor quality timber due to the scarcity brought about by overharvesting, He says Mahogany and other hard wood pieces, which originally came from DR Congo, are becoming extinct, hence more expensive.

Mande Buwembo, the executive director of Forest Concern, a local non-governmental organisation advocating forests conservation, said massive deforestation is threatening the future of forests. He said illegal timber dealers cut trees indiscriminately, including those that are not meant for construction, hence compromising quality.

To avoid being duped, Buwembo advised that developers should be in position to identify the various timber species, size, quality and timber’s moisture content.

Paul Lunakwita, a timber yard supervisor at the National Forestry Authority, says they usually auction timber impounded from illegal dealers, but this is sometime compromised. “Sometimes they are undersized, while others are poorly cut and not good for construction purposes.”

How to identify good timber

*Engage experts in identification of the right timber type, quality and size.

*Good timber should exhibit a hard and shining appearance.
 

*It should be preferably dark. A light colour indicates low strength.
 

*Good timber should be hard. It should offer resistance when being penetrated.
 

*It should be hard enough to resist the action of fungi, insects, chemicals and handling.
 

*Avoid timber with a lot of moisture, since it is subject to deformation.
 

*Timber harvested from immature trees is of poor quality.
 

*Exposing timber to direct sunshine can lead to deformation.

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