Rwanda National Police

Ten men were arrested in Huye district on Friday for allegedly destroyed part of the protected forest located in Karama Sector. 

Huye District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mudathir Twebaze, said that the ten suspects were arrested in Ibisi bya Huye forest, where they cut part of the forest for charcoal burning. 

He identified the suspects as Callixte Habanabashaka, Jean Bosco Uzabakiriho, Valens Havugimana, Valens Bizumuremyi, Gervias Mbonigaba, Daniel Byiringiro, Gilbert Ntawukuriryayo, Sylvain Mayira, Jean Bosco Nyabyenda and Gerard Niyibizi.

Information about the environmental crime, SP Twebaze said, was provided by local leaders.

"Police responded to information provided by local authorities. The suspects were found harvesting charcoal. They had already harvested 11 sacks and with a heap of other tree logs, which they intended to burn for charcoal," said SP Twebaze. 

He warned against the environmental criminal acts and called for information sharing on those, who destroy the protected forest. 

"The public is called to desist from activities that could potentially harm the environment, particularly acts that lead to deforestation."

The government has heavily invested in forestation programs across the country as a way of protecting the environment and to reclaim degraded forests. 

The tree-planting program is also meant to address prolonged drought and soil erosion in the country.

He also emphasized the need to plant more trees as a major factor of fighting deforestation and to prevent burning of charcoal in the forest that helps us to get rainfall and good oxygen we breathe as well as the beauty of the surrounding.

Environmental experts say that the world's forests, swamps, plains, lakes, and other habitats continue to disappear due to human activities including charcoal burning, agriculture, housing, roads, timber, and more.

Article 44 of the law on environment, prohibits cutting trees in forests or protected areas like national parks or burning them.

Article 59 of the same legal instrument, states that any person, who causes death, destroys protected plants, harvests or damages them, commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to an imprisonment term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf3 million.