President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed his June 21st, 2023, ban on the exportation of unprocessed timber in Uganda in order to reverse the worrying trend of deforestation.          The President made the reminder on August 4th, 2023, at the close of the 4th Bi-Annual CEO Retreat held at the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Jinja.

According to President Museveni, nobody should export unprocessed timber, and furniture makers should keep the timber and make the furniture in Uganda, insisting that they should export the furniture, not the timber.

“You don’t make medicine; you can’t even make furniture; what do you do? Then you say, We are experts. Experts of what? Ignorance? So that is why I cannot support the export of timber and the import of furniture. Convert the timber into furniture and export the furniture to those who don’t have trees,” Museveni said.                                                     President Museveni suggested that Uganda should also persuade the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to also ban the importation of timber to Uganda in order to make his exportation ban gain traction.

“I think we should also persuade our Congolese friends to make furniture because that will be a loophole. They will take out timber, claiming that it’s coming from Congo. That lack of vision is what I cannot support,” Museveni stated.                                                         The National Policy Committee on Environment resolved to ban the export of timber and cancelled all licences and permits issued in this regard as a way of protecting the environment.