The Commander of the UPDF 4 Infantry Division, Major General Felix Busizoori, has ordered an immediate regional shutdown of all charcoal dealing and illegal tree-cutting across Northern Uganda and West Nile.
Maj Gen Busizoori issued the directive during a high-level security meeting at the 4 Infantry Division headquarters in Gulu on August 12, 2026.
The military commander instructed security forces, government ministries, and local law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce Executive Order No. 3 of 2023 without exception.
He revealed that illegal charcoal burning and timber harvesting have severely degraded five major forest reserves in the region, including the vital Zoka Forest.
"No charcoal dealer should be allowed to operate in Northern Uganda and West Nile with immediate effect," Maj Gen Busizoori directed.
Addressing claims by Mr. Eria Ssenyonjo, Chairman of the Charcoal Dealers Association in Uganda, that dealers import charcoal legally from South Sudan, Maj Gen Busizoori dismissed the assertion.
He clarified that the South Sudan government outlawed charcoal production and export in 2019, rendering all charcoal imports into Uganda illegal.
To penalize offenders, Maj Gen Busizoori ordered security personnel to impound all illegal charcoal shipments and distribute the products directly to neighboring local communities for immediate domestic use.
The multi-agency meeting convened representatives from the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Police Force, Internal Security Organisation, and private trade associations to align enforcement operations.
