By Mike Rwothomio 

In a decisive response to threats against protected ecosystems, over 60 individuals were apprehended by authorities in Malira Village, Zoka Parish, Itirikwa Sub-county, Adjumani District, for unauthorized intrusion into the gazetted Zoka Government Forest Reserve.

The incident, unfolding on November 20, 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM, underscores escalating pressures on Uganda's diminishing forest cover, where such habitat degradation exacerbates carbon loss and wildlife displacement.

Acting on credible intelligence from the Zoka Army Detachment, the Zoka Police Detachment, bolstered by Field Force Police (FFP) units, intercepted a mass convergence within the Acholi Bay section of the reserve.

North West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SP Collins Asea confirmed the operation, stating: "Over 200 individuals were observed moving in large groups with the apparent intention of occupying land within Acholi Bay, located in the gazetted Zoka Government Forest."

The rapid deployment of a collaborative police-military task force neutralized the incursion, detaining more than 60 suspects equipped with pangas and hoes, implements typically associated with soil disturbance and vegetation clearance.

Police said the group asserted intentions to reclaim ancestral territories, a claim authorities are scrutinizing amid ongoing habitat protection mandates.

Among the detainees, 10 have been remanded to Central Police Station (CPS) Adjumani for intensified interrogation, while over 50 remain under custody at Maji 2 Police Station pending comprehensive environmental impact assessments and offender profiling.

Several suspects evaded initial capture and are subjects of active pursuit.

Seized items included over 40 mobile phones, potential vectors for coordinating ecosystem disruptions alongside 50 pangas and 10 hoes.

An official dossier on unlawful entry into the protected forest domain has been registered at CPS Adjumani under reference SD 42/22/11/2025, invoking statutory prohibitions against reserve violations.

The 10 primary detainees are secured at CPS Adjumani, with additional holds at Maji 2 Police Station.

This event highlights the imperative for fortified stewardship of Uganda's Central Forest Reserves, managed under the National Forestry Authority (NFA), where deforestation rates—averaging 90,000 hectares annually—threaten national sustainability targets, according to NEMA.

Under Uganda's National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 (as amended), Central Forest Reserves like Zoka are designated as protected areas to preserve biodiversity, mitigate climate vulnerability, and sustain watershed functions.

Key provisions addressing illegal entry and related encroachments include:Section 37(1): It is an offense to enter or remain in a gazetted forest reserve without lawful authority or permit from the responsible officer. This encompasses any unauthorized presence that risks habitat disturbance, with penalties including fines up to UGX 4,000,000 (approximately USD 1,080) or imprisonment for up to two years or both.

Section 38: Prohibits activities such as clearing vegetation, grazing livestock, or constructing structures within reserves, which could stem from illegal entry, 

with the NFA reporting over 450 illegal titles revoked in reserves as of recent audits.

Some of the tools the police discovered from the suspects

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub.