Agago loses over 42,000 shea trees in 18 months

26 December 2025, 4:14 pm

By Daniel Odong

Nearly 100 shea nut trees are being cut down across Agago District, raising alarm among cultural and forestry leaders over the rapid destruction of one of northern Uganda’s most valuable and endangered tree species.

Rwot Kasemiro Ongom, the Rwot of P’tongo, said all the 26 sub-counties in the district are endowed with shea nut trees, but escalating demand for charcoal has driven widespread and indiscriminate cutting, including of immature trees.

Branches of cut shea tree branches lie scattered in Kotomor Sub-county, Agago District. ( Photo by Odong Daniel)

“People no longer respect the presidential directives banning the cutting of trees, especially endangered species like the shea,” Rwot Kasemiro told LUO F.M in a telephone interview.

He blamed weak enforcement on security authorities, particularly Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), who head security operations in the district. He said it was worrying that box-body trucks ferrying charcoal continue to ply district roads daily despite the presence of roadblocks.

His concerns come amid ongoing enforcement operations against illegal tree cutting in the district. Several suspects, including local leaders, have been arrested and remanded to court over the destruction of shea nut trees.

The Agago District Forest Officer, Mr John Okidi, warned that shea nut trees take decades to mature and begin bearing fruit, making them especially vulnerable to extinction if current trends persist.

“If this cutting continues, we risk wiping out the shea nut tree from our land,” Mr Okidi said, adding that conservation is a collective responsibility that requires active participation from communities.

He urged residents across Acholi Sub-region to desist from illegal tree cutting and to report offenders to local authorities and the police for action.

Mr Okidi noted that while district and cultural leaders have intensified community sensitisation, some individuals have ignored the warnings and should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He further called on communities to take tree planting seriously as a way of conserving the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, which has increasingly manifested through excessive rainfall, floods and prolonged droughts.

According to a mini-survey conducted by cultural leaders, at least 42,100 shea nut trees were destroyed in Agago District between 2023 and mid-2025.