Date: November 11, 2024
The Makindye Chief Magistrates Court has 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 (SH-ACU) in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) after he was found in possession of more than 200 pieces of timber illegally cut from Mabira Forest. The timber was recovered during a search at his stores near the forest in Najjembe Division, Lugazi Municipality.
Sembwa, described as a notorious illegal logger, has been repeatedly arrested by Police and charged over similar offenses but had never been convicted until now. His conviction marks a significant step in the fight against illegal logging and the destruction of Uganda’s forests.
SH-ACU commenced investigations into the illegal destruction of Mabira Forest following a directive from H.E. the President, who has consistently condemned deforestation. The President has previously emphasized:
“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.”
The cost of deforestation in Uganda is estimated at more than 500,000 acres of forest destroyed annually, the equivalent of 43 football fields every hour. In 2021 alone, the country lost 49,000 hectares of tree cover, contributing to approximately 23.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Ongoing investigations have so far exposed widespread illegal activities, including encroachment for agriculture, logging, charcoal burning, and even the unlawful creation of land titles on forest land.
The conviction of Sembwa is a warning to all those engaging in illegal forest activities. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit reiterates its commitment to ensuring that all culprits are brought to book in order to protect Uganda’s forests.