Judicial officers trained on forest crime cases adjudication

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A total of 36 judicial officers across Uganda are undergoing a two-day training on how to adjudicate forest crime cases effectively.

The European Union is funding the training of officers, including chief magistrates and magistrates’ grade one, under the EU-Uganda Forest Partnership.

The training, which is being undertaken by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is being held at the JTI premises in Nakawa, Kampala.

This initiative comes at a critical time when forest-related crimes pose an increasing threat to Uganda’s biodiversity, economy, and environmental stability.

The programme equips judicial officers, particularly from forest crime hotspot districts, with the knowledge, legal tools, and practical skills necessary to address offences such as illegal logging, timber trafficking, charcoal production, and land encroachment through expert-led sessions, case studies, and group discussions.

Opening the training on behalf of Acting Chief Registrar, Pamella Lamunu Ocaya, Lillian Bucyana, the Acting Registrar of JTI, underscored the Judiciary’s responsibility in protecting Uganda’s forests.

“Forests are not just about trees. They regulate climate, support livelihoods, and sustain biodiversity. We must ask ourselves, are we doing enough to deter environmental crime?”

JTI executive director Justice Andrew Khaukha emphasised the urgent need for judicial engagement in environmental justice, noting that forests contribute nearly 10% of Uganda’s GDP, estimated at $60b.

“What informs agriculture? What helps us get rain? Forests,” he said. “You, as Judicial Officers, have a duty to protect this resource through the application of justice.”

Speaking for UNODC, Sharon Nyambe highlighted that Uganda’s forest cover has fallen from 24% in 1990 to 12.4% in 2019, with fewer than 50 forest crime cases prosecuted in 2024—half of which resulted in convictions.

She reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s criminal justice system, pointing out that forest crimes are often linked to transnational organised crime, corruption, and money laundering.

Jalia B. Kobusinge, Adviser at the European Union Delegation in Uganda, stressed that environmental protection is vital to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“No institution can tackle forest and wildlife crime alone,” she said. “The Judiciary plays a critical role in upholding the law and protecting our shared natural heritage,” she said.

The training, moderated by Nanteza Zulaika, the Acting Registrar of the ADR Registry, features sessions by Prof. Emmanuel Kasimbazi on forestry, conservation principles, and Uganda’s legal framework on forest crimes.

Other facilitators include James Ssaka from the Financial Intelligence Authority on related crimes such as money laundering and corruption, and Gladys Kamasanyu, Chief Magistrate of the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, on adjudicating forest crime cases.

The programme will also cover the application of electronic and scientific evidence, with Stuart Maniraguha, the Acting Executive Director of the National Forestry Authority, leading a session on Uganda’s response to forest crime.

It will conclude with case studies and a comparative analysis of international best practices, aimed at identifying gaps and formulating practical solutions.

By the end of the training, judicial officers will be better equipped to strengthen the fight against forest crimes, ensuring the protection of Uganda’s forests and the communities that depend on them.