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By Frank Kamuntu
The Makindye Chief Magistrates Court yesterday convicted and sentenced Sembwa Rabinson to 12 months imprisonment for Illegal possession of forest produce.
Sembwa was arrested by the State House Anti Corruption Unit together with Uganda Police after being found in possession of over 200 pieces of timber cut from Mabira forest.
According to the Unit, Sembwa is a notorious illegal logger who has repeatedly been arrested, charged over the same but had never been convicted till yesterday when his 40days ended.
The Unit commenced investigations into the illegal destruction of Mabira Forest following a directive from H.E the President, to stop the illegal activities in Mabira Forest. The President has always been vocal against this vice and on one occasion, he said “whoever destroys forests is an enemy of the country because forests, work as a system and when one part of the system is tampered with, the entire system is affected.”
It is estimated that over 500,000 acres of forests are cut annually throughout Uganda, this is equivalent to deforesting 43 football fields every hour.
In 2021, Uganda lost 49,000 hectares of tree cover, equivalent to 23.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Investigations which are still ongoing have so far revealed a number of illegal activities; encroachment for agriculture, logging, charcoal burning and creation of titles on forest land.
SH-ACU was established under Article 99(4) of the constitution of Uganda, which gives the President executive powers to either directly or indirectly perform his duties or through officers subordinate to him.
Launched on 10th December 2018, SH-ACU coordinates with all constitutionally mandated agencies to ensure a corruption-free country.
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