KAMPALA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has issued an executive order banning charcoal burning and trade in the northern region in order to conserve the environment.

Museveni said in an order issued here on Wednesday that officials in charge of the environment and forestry had allowed the destructive tree cutting for the charcoal business to go on massively in the five subregions in the northern part of the East African country.

"These charcoal burners and traders are so bankrupt that they even cut the famous shea butter trees," said Museveni.

The president said it will only be the minister of environment to authorize any charcoal burning to assist in cattle ranching by clearing thickets and cutting unwanted and unusable trees.

Museveni also castigated security officers for corruption and for assisting the charcoal business in the region.

According to the National Environment Management Authority of Uganda, the country has registered better forest cover in recent years, despite increasing cases of illegal logging and forest destruction by encroachers. Enditem

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