Minister for Environment Condemns Bush Burning in Northern Uganda

29 December 2025, 5:49 pm

The State Minister for Water and Environment, Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar, has condemned the practice of bush burning, warning that it destroys soil nutrients and degrades the environment.

Speaking during a visit to northern Uganda, particularly the Acholi sub-region, the minister noted that many people burn bushes during the dry season to hunt bush meat such as grass cutters and to encourage fresh grass for animals like cows and goats. She said this practice is harmful to the soil and the environment.

Hon. Anywar reminded the public that Executive Order No. 3, signed by President Yoweri Museveni, clearly prohibits bush burning because it degrades the environment and reduces soil fertility.

She also noted that the grasses being burnt are useful to some community members for thatching houses. She encouraged people to adopt alternative building materials such as iron sheets instead of destroying grass through bush burning.

Hon. Anywar appealed to the people of northern Uganda to stop burning bushes, saying it leaves the soil fertile for crop production and helps protect the environment. She warned that uncontrolled fires can also spread and burn grass-thatched houses.

Meanwhile, the clan chief of Rwot Okol clan, Rwot Jud Ogik, also condemned bush burning, saying it is dangerous to the environment. He explained that vegetation helps maintain a cool environment, attracts moisture, and supports rainfall formation.

Rwot Ogik noted that many farmers still have crops in their gardens, including simsim, sorghum, and peas, which are at risk of being destroyed by bush fires. He warned that such losses could worsen poverty in the region.

He called upon local leaders to enact bylaws against bush burning and to impose fines on those caught engaging in the practice. He added that bush burning not only destroys grass but also trees that help cool the environment, leading to prolonged drought.