NFA fails to charge ex-forestry officer over illegal timber

Feb 28, 2018

“The Police is investigating and once this is concluded Twinomugabe will be charged,” the source said.

Two weeks after Abel Twinomugabe, former District Forestry Officer for Kyegegwa was arrested over illegal timber; the National Forestry Authority (NFA) has not charged him.

According to a source at NFA, Twinomugabe was released on Police bond last week after making a statement at Wandegeya police station. The source also said Twinomugabe made counter accusation that the driver of the truck which was loaded with timber was beaten and money stolen from the driver.

"The Police is investigating and once this is concluded Twinomugabe will be charged," the source said.

Abel Twinomugabe was caught with a truck load of illegal timber on TAATA truck. He was paraded as an illegal timber dealer last week. He was escorted by Policemen from the Environment Protection Force and the law enforcement team at Nakawa which houses the headquarters of the National Forestry Authority (NFA).

 
"Abel is one of the habitual timber dealers from Bugoma Central Forest Reserve," said Steven Bagonza who is the law enforcement Coordinator at the National Forestry Authority. "I got information that timber had been cut in Bugoma forest and we inspected the truck at Kalerwe in Kampala over the weekend," he said.

Bagonza said Twinomugabe had been intercepted several times with illegal timber but has not been changed despite the warnings. "I have got him not once, not twice but several times," said Bagonza.

Twinomugabe confesses on using power chain saw

Twinomugabe conceded that he was dealing in illegal timber on grounds that it was cut using a power chain saw. He also defended himself saying that the trees left on private land were scattered and that it is not easy to use a hand saw to convert them into timber.

 
"I am operating on private land belonging to Margret Kyekya at Nsozi in Kyangwali Sub County," he said, adding that the only crime he committed was cutting down trees using a chain power saw. "I have been in timber business for some time and 90% of the timber is harvested using power chain saw."

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