The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has announced dismantling a criminal racket that had been staging illegal roadblocks and extorting money from charcoal and forest product traders along several major highways in Uganda.
The operation followed numerous complaints from traders who reported that individuals posing as NFA officials were intercepting vehicles along the Gulu, Masaka and Jinja highways and demanding money.
In response, NFA management deployed an enforcement team led by Police Liaison Officer Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Olugu and NFA Legal Officer Sam Blick to patrol the highways from Gulu to Moyo.
Acting on intelligence, the team intercepted the suspects in the Bombo–Kalule area while they had stopped a truck transporting charcoal.
According to NFA officials, one of the suspects, who identified himself as Sergeant Andrew Senyanzi and was dressed in an army uniform, fled the scene in a car.
Two other suspects, Lukyamuzi and Adam Shariff—who was wearing a reflector jacket labeled “NFA”—attempted to escape into nearby bushes.
ACP Olugu fired warning shots in the air ordering the suspects to stop. When they ignored the orders, Shariff was shot in the foot and subsequently arrested.
The injured suspect was taken to hospital for treatment and is expected to be handed over to police to face robbery charges.
During interrogation by the NFA legal team, Shariff reportedly admitted that the group had been staging illegal roadblocks and extorting money from charcoal traders, including those operating with valid licences.
Authorities said the suspects were using vehicles registration numbers UBE 631D, a white Toyota Ipsum, and UAN 595X, a Toyota Harrier, in their operations.
NFA Communications and Public Relations Manager Aldon Walukamba said the criminal activities had damaged the authority’s reputation.
“This criminal activity has dented the well-intentioned mandate of NFA. We call upon the public to work with us to eliminate such robbery and extortion targeting genuine forest product traders,” Walukamba said.
He added that NFA enforcement teams have recently arrested more than 300 suspects involved in illegal activities in forest reserves including Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Oriha Central Forest Reserve, Mount Kei, Kityerera, Jubiya Central Forest Reserve and Nsoowe Central Forest Reserve.
Many of the suspects have since been prosecuted in courts of law, with several cases reported in national media.
The authority says the crackdown will continue as part of efforts to protect legitimate traders and restore public confidence in forest governance.
