Agency
Leaders at Acholi Cultural Institution have expressed concern over the alarming rate of deforestation in the Acholi sub-region.
According to the Spokesperson of Acholi Cultural Institution, Geoffrey Okello Okuna, the institution headed by Rwot David Onen Acana II, was on a sensitization campaign from February 10 to 16th, and witnessed firsthand the high level of indiscriminate tree cutting, amid low levels of reforestation.
Okuna said the cultural institution is calling upon all residents in the sub-region to start planting trees on a large scale.
Okuna argued that chunks of land remain vacant in all districts in Acholi, something he says is attracting land grabbers, and increasing cases of land conflict.
He advised the communities to start planting perennial crops, that not only keep their land occupied all year round but provide a stable source of income.
Kassimiro Ongom, the chief of Kotongo clan, who has been at the centre of the fight against indiscriminate tree cutting in Agago district, revealed that they are consulting a team of lawyers to guide them on how to ensure that big shots who facilitate the cutting of trees or are implicated in tree cutting, do not go scot-free.
Agago district alone lost 229.8 acres of trees between 2001 to 2020, according to a report released by GIZ in 2022.
The report pointed out commercial charcoal production, construction works, and farming as the main factors responsible for deforestation in the district.
