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A search at Sembwa’s storage facility in Najjembe, Lugazi Municipality, discovered illegally harvested timber
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COURT - The Makindye Chief Magistrates Court has sentenced Sembwa Rabinson, a notorious illegal logger, to 12 months in prison for illegal possession of forest produce. The sentence follows his arrest by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in coordination with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), after he was found in possession of over 200 pieces of timber cut from the Mabira Forest. This marks Sembwa’s first conviction after multiple arrests on similar charges.
The arrest came after a search at Sembwa’s storage facility in Najjembe, Lugazi Municipality, where authorities discovered illegally harvested timber, underscoring his repeated violations of Uganda's forestry laws. The conviction represents a significant stride in the government’s crackdown on illegal logging and other activities threatening the nation’s forest cover, including agriculture encroachment, charcoal burning, and unauthorized land titles.
Sembwa's conviction represents a significant stride in the government’s crackdown on illegal logging and other activities threatening the nation’s forest cover
The operation follows President Yoweri Museveni's directive to halt illegal forest destruction, particularly in Mabira. In a recent statement, the President emphasized that “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.”
Authorities discovered illegally harvested timber at Sembwa's storage facility
Uganda’s forests face an urgent threat, with approximately 500,000 acres lost annually — equivalent to deforesting 43 football fields per hour. In 2021 alone, Uganda lost 49,000 hectares of tree cover, leading to an estimated 23.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, highlighting the link between deforestation and climate change.
Authorities have pledged to continue these operations to protect Uganda’s forests, safeguard indigenous species, and reduce global warming. Investigations remain underway, with further arrests expected to follow.
Torch Media Africa
