“This operation is aimed at protecting our shea trees from destruction by illegal charcoal dealers and poachers”, Okello said. He added “As government, we are implementing President Museveni’s Executive Order Number Three of 2023 on environmental protection, and we shall not allow individuals to destroy indigenous trees for personal gain”.
By Denish Ongora
ALEBTONG – 1st June 2026. The Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Alebtong, Jimmy Okello, has launched a major operation aimed at protecting shea trees from illegal destruction.
The operation, conducted jointly by security personnel, local leaders, and community members, started on 23rd/ May/ 2026, in Akamdini Village, Abongatin Parish, Amugu Sub County, where authorities discovered 30 shea tree stems that had been illegally cut down in a single garden for charcoal burning.
During the operation, the LC1 Chairperson of Akamdini Village, Alfred Okello, was arrested for allegedly condoning the illegal activity and receiving bribes from the poachers involved in the destruction of the shea trees.
Jimmy Okello said the operation is in line with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s Executive Order Number Three of 2023, which directed leaders, security agencies, and communities across the country to intensify environmental protection and stop the destruction of natural resources, especially forests, wetlands, and endangered indigenous trees.
“This operation is aimed at protecting our shea trees from destruction by illegal charcoal dealers and poachers”, Okello said. He added “As government, we are implementing President Museveni’s Executive Order Number Three of 2023 on environmental protection, and we shall not allow individuals to destroy indigenous trees for personal gain”.
Okello explained that shea trees are among the valuable indigenous tree species protected under the government environmental conservation directives because of their economic, medicinal, and environmental importance to communities in Northern Uganda.
He warned that any person found cutting down shea trees illegally, transporting charcoal produced from shea trees, or conniving with poachers will face arrest and prosecution.
The Assistant RDC emphasized that local leaders are required to involve forestry officers whenever a shea tree has dried up, becomes dangerous, or requires lawful removal, saying no individual has authority to cut such trees without clearance from responsible authorities.
Okello further revealed that some of the suspected poachers are traders from the neighboring Teso sub-region, especially Amuria District, who allegedly buy shea tree stems that are cut using power saws before being burned into charcoal.
One of the incidents that reportedly angered Okello and other district leaders most, was the alleged involvement of the administration of Amugu Quran Primary School in allowing poachers to cut down one of the shea trees within the school compound.
The operation has so far targeted the parishes of Abunga, Omee, and Abongatin in Amugu Sub-county, where leaders say illegal cutting of shea trees has become rampant.
The LC3 Chairperson of Amugu Sub-county, Ojom David, accused some LC1 chairpersons of collaborating with the culprits through bribery, thereby frustrating efforts to conserve the environment.
Okello has now vowed to conduct ceaseless operations across Alebtong District until the illegal destruction of shea trees is completely stopped. He warned that the crackdown will not spare local leaders, charcoal dealers, transporters, or any individual found participating in the illegal trade.
“I commend President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his strong leadership in environmental protection, which has helped leaders and security agencies protect indigenous trees and other natural resources. I also thank him for appointing me as Assistant RDC of Alebtong. We shall continue conducting ceaseless operations against all those destroying shea trees in the district,” said Okello.
He called upon residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting all people involved in destroying shea trees and other environmentally protected resources.
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