Massive cutting of indigenous trees for charcoal burning is slowly turning areas of Katakwi in Eastern Uganda into a bare ground.
The most endangered is the Shea nut tree, one of the species with countless economic and cultural value.
The Shea nut trees are preserved in Teso, because they provide delicious and highly valuable nutritious oil used in food consumption.
However, the once thick foliage mainly consisting of savannah grasslands dotted with shrubs and shear nut trees in some sub counties in Katakwi district has virtually been destroyed.
Steven Ochola the Area LC1 of Abela A’ village , Abela Parish in Getom Sub County says charcoal burners are targeting the tree which is locally known as Ekungur in Ateso because it produces high-quality charcoal, which attracts a large market.
He says the unemployed Men, Women and Youth are now depending on charcoal for their livelihood.
On average, Uganda has been losing 122,000 hectares (301,469 acres) of forests per year since 1990, according to a 2016 report by the National Forestry Authority, a government agency responsible for managing and protecting forests in the country.
A sack of the resulting charcoal for 25,000 Ugandan shillings.
In 2016, the Katakwi district council resolved to fine whoever is found with more than five bags of charcoal Shillings 20, 000 per bag.
Police were also expected to fine trucks found ferrying charcoal from the district to act as a deterrent to those involved in the business. But the resolution seems to have fallen into deaf ears.