By Alan Clement
Wani Jackson Mule, Commissioner of Kajo-keji county of Central Equatoria state, has issued a directive to halt all logging activity, citing rampant violations of national and state-level, bans.
Wednesday’s order has heightened enforcement in villages affected by illegal logging including Nyepo, Limi, Liwolo, Kala, and Pure.
This resulted from Commissioner Mule’s discovery that illegal logging persisted despite standing directives the national Minister of Environment and Forestry (January 2025), and the State Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry.
“We cannot go against the orders issued by our government,” Mule stressed. “When I took office in June, logging was ongoing in audacious violation of these bans. This is not a shift in policy but an enforcement of what should already be happening,” he continued.
In an interview with this outlet, the commissioner stated that most logging operations involved unregistered individuals and companies, many of whom collaborate informally with operators from neighboring Uganda’s border towns including Moyo and Yumbe.
The commissioner pointed out that the illegal loggers reportedly enter local forests under unofficial arrangements with landlords, chiefs and even business people whose aim is to profit themselves, later smuggling timber into Uganda for commercial gain.
“The scale of logging is massive,” the commissioner noted. “It threatens our ecological system and we cannot allow this to continue in Kajokeji,” he emphasized.
He attributed the tenacity of logging to financial desperation and what he referred to as “stubbornness” in communities that have come to view forests as their primary revenue source. He identified local landlords and chiefs as key facilitators, allegedly securing machinery and permits through questionable channels.
Security forces have since been mobilized for direct intervention following the commissioner’s directive.
Mule cited an intervention in Limi on Wednesday, July 16th, where suspected loggers abandoned equipment and timbers and fled upon arrival of the police. Further operations are expected in multiple locations including Ngepo, Kala, Liwolo and Pure in the coming days.
“Anyone we get in the bush engaging in illegal logging will be apprehended by the organized forces and police,” Mule warned.
He reiterated that all existing logging permits will be withdrawn stating that his office was not consulted on previous permits, thereby making all those who obtained permits previously illegal.
The commissioner stated that permits can only be approved for logging if they are intended to benefit the community.
This can be in projects such as renovation or construction of schools, health facilities, water facilities and other county activities.
Even under such circumstances, applicants will have to undergo a strict multi-stage approval process, requiring applications to a committee in the directorate of forestry, county department, and finally state ministry of forestry, with strict supervision to prevent unauthorized logging.
Regarding the alleged involvement of law enforcement, Mule affirmed that regular security meetings are held with forces to coordinate efforts against illegal logging.
He clarified that the army is not implicated in logging protection. He recalled fatal incidents in 2023/2024 linked to community disputes over forest exploitation and stressed the need to avoid further loss of life.
Friday security meetings are now a fixture in Kajokeji’s governance calendar, aiming to enhance oversight and promote interdepartmental cooperation against environmental crimes.