Members of Parliament accused the International University of East Africa– IUEA, of carrying out massive commercial charcoal burning in Nakapiripiriti district in Karamoja.
Chekwii County MP, Moses Aleper accused IUEA of having transported 700 bags of charcoal to Kampala after clearing big tracts of land for charcoal production. He also attacked the Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris for protecting the activities of the said university.
Large-scale felling of trees, which was already short in the fragile ecosystem of the region, Aleper pointed out, had a devastating effect on the area. Aleper demanded an investigation into the matter and asked the Speaker of Parliament to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate how IUEA acquired the land and got permission to clear off the vegetation.
Speaker Anita Among urged Aleper to bring a petition or motion to the Parliament with the view of causing an investigation into the matter. She agreed to the gravity of the issue and added that the implications of the deforestation of Nakapiripiriti would extend to other areas like Bukedea.
Aleper explained that the IUEA had taken up charcoal burning based on guidelines issued by Minister Cheptoris, while the Resident District Commissioner of Nakapiripiriti claimed that the university had misused the guidelines to engage in illegal commercial activities.
These allegations against IUEA raise serious concerns on environmental protection and misuse of government resources. Yet, it remains to be seen how the Parliament will go about responding to these accusations, and what actions will be taken in order to address the issue of the illegal charcoal burning in Karamoja.
