1. Current status of national forestry statistics related to wood products

This section presents a brief outline of the actual forest products in Uganda and the type of information usually collected in 3.1. Section 3.2 describes the existing methodology for data collection, followed by a description of the data compilation validation and dissemination in 3.3. In section 3.4, institutions involved in the collection, processing and analysis of forest products statistics is presented. A brief description of wood products produced, consumed and traded is given in section 3.5. Finally, the account of active wood industries in the country is presented in 3.6.

In Uganda, information collected on forest produce or products relates to industrial roundwood and the products derived from it. Roundwood are mainly for sawlogs, veneer logs, poles, fencing posts while the derived products are, timber, poles, posts, firewood and charcoal.

1.1.1. Roundwood:

The production of roundwood is mainly for sawlogs and to some limited extend, veneer logs. A mature tree (usually over 50 cm diameter at breast height, dbh), when felled for timber is sectioned and crosscut into pieces of saw logs (usually in 4 m lengths). The primary data collected are the length and mid diameter for the determination of the volume of each saw log in cubic metres overbark. In addition, defects are also assessed on each log.

1.1.2. Poles and Posts.

These are long and slender pieces of round wood used for construction, utility transmission lines and fencing. The difference between poles and posts depend on its height or length and use. For instance, poles used for utility transmission such as telephone or electricity are longer (taller), while posts are shorter and are mainly used for fencing.

There are two categories of poles in Uganda based on the source of origin i.e. either plantation class A or natural forest, class B. The former is from plantations, while the latter is from the natural forest or bush. Class A is further divided into three classes depending on the diameter range as shown in table 1 below. Class B is has the same basis of sub division except that it only stops at Class II.

Data collected on poles are either count of physical pieces of the wood or running metres of the pole length or cubic metres.

1.1.3. Sawnwood or Timber

The piece of wood that is usable in any construction work or furniture is called sawnwood or timber. There are three classes of timber or sawn wood. Class One, which is further subdivided into either hardwoods (IA) i.e. highly priced species for example, mahoganies or Class 1B, i.e. Hardwood of medium value and cypress. Class Two, are all other hardwoods of lower quality and all pines. Lastly Class Three, are all other hardwoods of less value. The information collected for all these classes are either, the overbark volumes in cubic metres or the number of pieces and sizes (width, length and thickness in centimetres, although commonly expressed in inches and feet).

1.1.4. Firewood and charcoal.

Pieces of wood especially from stems and branches of trees or when burnt under an oxygen starved environment to produce charcoal used as a source of energy for cooking, heating or other industrial purposes. Firewood information is collected by counting the number of pieces, head bundles or as volumes in cubic metres of stacked bundle while charcoal is measured by counting the number of bags.

Data collection on forest-products statistics starts from the field where timber harvesting and production of charcoal or fuel wood takes place. The starting point is the measurement of the tree before felling and after felling for conversion into timber or charcoal/firewood. The measurements are recorded on a timber harvesting form. Additional source of data on the forest products are declaration and movement permits. A brief description of the methodology for data collection and recording are given below. For details the reader is referred to the Forest Department Starting Orders (DSO):

1.2.1. Round wood for Saw logs and veneer:

Before a tree is felled, the forest staff in charge inspects the trees for felling and ensures that they are of the correct size for felling as stipulated in the management plan. Thereafter, he/she marks the trees with a hammer before allowing the tree to be felled. After felling, the license number of the licensee is hammered on the stumps for further control of trees cut. The felled tree is then sectioned and crosscut into saw logs, each of which is numbered in a sequential order and the number hammered at the end of each log. The length of each saw log is then measured to the nearest metre, using a tape while the mid-diameter is measured to the nearest centimetre by use of a calliper or diameter tape. A form called timber harvesting volume measurement, is used for recording the data, under the following column categories:

At the top is general information: Forest, Compartment, coupe, Date, Name of measurer etc.

Column 1: Tree Number

Column 2: Species

Column 3: Defect Allowance

Column 4: Log number

Column 5: Log mid-diameter

Column 6: Length of log

Column 7: Volume

Column 8: Value estimation in Uganda shillings

This form is filled in quadruplicate, with the original copy sent to the customer (the miller), the duplicate to the FD Head quarters, triplicate to the charge officer (District Forest Officer) and the quadruplicate remaining in the book.

1.2.2. Charcoal and Firewood:

The ideal method for measuring charcoal could have been by direct weighing. However, for simplicity and other logistical problems such as lack of relevant tools e.g. weighing scales in the field, Forest Department, FD has adopted a simple method of counting the number of bags of charcoal. As for firewood, the measurement is by volume or counting of head bundles. In the former, pieces of the wood are stacked into one cubic meter stacks (measuring 1 m x 1m x 1m). Further conversions to other units are normally done at the head office using appropriate conversion factors.

1.2.3. Produce Declaration Form:

Any forest produce moving out of the forest must be declared by the officer in charge of that reserve by filling in a forest produce declaration form. This form introduces the carrier to the District Forest Officer (DFO). The form specifies the sizes of timber, estimate of royalty, number of pieces, the species and the origin of timber. Unlike the timber harvesting form, the forest produce declaration form is filled in triplicate with the original sent to the DO, duplicate to Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the District and the triplicate remains in the book. The DFO, on receipt of this form, proceeds to check the actual quantity and mark each piece of timber with a second timber hammer called a district seal, which shows the code of the district. After marking the timbers, the DFO then issues a Forest Produce Movement Permit (See below). It authorises the transportation of the produce from the District of origin to its final destination.

1.2.4. Forest Produce Movement Permit.

The form has the following information: Date, district of origin, vehicle owner, identity card, vehicle registration number, make and capacity. The second part of the form is the authorisation of moving the forest produce from source to destination with details about the type of the produce, size, species and the value. The form further gives information about the forest station, name of licensee and details about the license such as expiry date, name of issuing officer and signature of the issuing officer with his/her designation. This form is filled out and five copies are issued. The original form is sent to customer at destination, a duplicate to the carrier, the triplicate to FD head quarters in Kampala, the quadruplicate to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the lastly quintuplicate remains in the book.

As mentioned above, the sources of primary data on round wood and forest products are the three forms described above submitted to the DFO’s office and FD HQ on regular basis by the officer in charge at the forest level. At the district office, the DFO, then summarises and compiles the data from these forms, together with the timber movement permit records into annual report tables as described further below. These summaries are then submitted to FD head quarters.

Table 1: Summary of Production of Roundwood and charcoal. The contents of this table are as follows:

At the top is the heading and reporting year

Column 1: Category or type of the round wood such as logs, poles and fencing post, fuelwood, and charcoal.

Column 2: Unit of measure. Cubic metres over-bark for logs, solid cubic metres for poles, posts and fuelwood. Charcoal is measured in tons.

Column 3: type of forest reserve that is further split into two sub-columns to differentiate between Natural High Forest (NHF) or Plantations with sub totals for each category of produce below.

Column 5: Source of the produce whether from public land or private land with also sub totals of each category of produce below.

Column 6: Finally the totals per each category of produce and all the categories below.

The last part of the table is a summary of the average FD royalty rates in shillings per cubic metre, for sawn timber. Timber is divided into the following classes: Class 1A, 1B, Cypress and Pines. Poles are classified into four classes based on diameter classes (I, II, III, and IV as explained above in section 2.1.)

Table 2: Details of industrial round wood: This table is for summarising the details on industrial round wood. There are six main columns.

At the top is the heading and reporting year

Column 1: Fee Class

Column 2: Botanical name (the instruction says species name should be abbreviated, but where there are many additional pages can be added.

Column 3: Trade or local name.

Column 5: Management plan area subdivided into 4, but where there are many the instruction is to use numbers as codes for the name of working plan area.

Column 6: Public land, this is to differentiate it from those coming from Forest reserves.

Column 7: Totals broken down for at least five years up to the current.

The details of this table are:

Column 1: Category of poles by source of forest i.e. conifers plantations, hardwood (eucalyptus) and bush

Column 2: Unit or number of pieces and for each category there is a sub-total converted into approximate volumes in cubic metres. For fuelwood the unit is in stacked volumes in cubic metres, while charcoal is in tonnes

Column 3 to 5: Management Plan areas.

Column 6: Public land

Column 7: Totals broken down for at least five years up to the current.

The details of this table are:

Column 1: Product sawn wood by class of timber, and how it was milled (saw milled or hand sawn), plywood, block board, particleboard, paper, paper products and matches.

Column 2: Unit, for saw timber it is in cubic metres, while plywood, block board and particleboard are in square metres. Paper and paper products are in weight. Finally, for box of matches it is the number of boxes in thousands.

Column 3: Quantity.

Column 4: Average retail price in Shs per unit

Column 5: Total value in thousands of Shs.

Column 6: Average retail price shs per cubic metre of timber classes The column is further subdivided into 5 columns, corresponding with the five commonest classes such as 1A& iB, II- IV, cypress, pines and eucalyptus.

There are two separate, but similar tables for capturing information on trade in wood products i.e. export or imports. The information to be captured is summarised into 5 columns.

Column 1: Product sawn wood by class of timber, plywood, block board, particleboard, paper, paper products and matches.

Column 2: Unit, for saw timber it is in cubic metres, while plywood, block board and particleboard are in square metres. Paper and paper products are in weight. Finally for box of matches it is the number of boxes in thousands.

Column 3: Quantity.

Column 4: Value in Shs per unit

Column 5: Destination (or country of origin for imports).

Column 6: The year, which is sub-divided into two columns to capture both quantity and value. The report captures information for at least 3 years up to the current reporting year.

Note that the instructions given to the charge officer is that this information should be obtained from Uganda Revenue Authority in Kampala, at District HQ and Customs Posts at border entry/exit points.

As mentioned above the DFO summarises the data into annual tables. At this stage, simple tools like handheld calculators are sufficient for the processing and compilation. After compiling the above information, the DFOs submit these tables to the Commissioner for Forestry at HQ. The Biometrician, then summarises all the data from all the Districts in Uganda in order to produce a synthesised national forest products statistics. There are computers with the necessary software available at headquarters for summarising this information based on similar table formats as described above. The final output is then ready for dissemination to the users such as the Forest Department, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and other agencies both within and without the Forest Department.

1.5.1. Institutions involved in data collection, analysis and dissemination

The following are the institutions involved in the collection, processing and analysis of data on forest products:

1.5.1.1. Forest Department.

At national level, the Commissioner for Forestry is the overall officer in charge with its headquarters located at the Capital Kampala. There are three divisions; each headed by an Assistant Commissioner for Forestry. The Biometrics section which deals with the processing and analysis of all forest statistics falls under the division of Planning, Training and Administration. District Forest Officers, who are assisted by Assistant Forest Officers (AFO) and Forest Rangers (FR) at the lowest level, collect the primary data as part of the overall management of the forest estate under their charge.

1.5.1.2. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)

The URA is another institution responsible for the collection of data on all goods and services traded or consumed, which includes forest products. Although the URA is interested mainly in the value of the product, the quantities of the product on which the taxes are based forms valuable source of primary data on forest products. Besides since this is an independent institution, this information if compiled regularly, could also act as a control and check on the actual quantities of the forest products traded and consumed.

1.5.1.2. Statistics Department

Under the same Ministry, it also annually prepares Uganda Statistical Abstract, which contains information on the production, consumption and trade of forest products in Uganda.

Other Institutions involved, although on limited scale, are Makerere University and Forest Research Institute. These are mainly research papers by students and research scientists and are hardly sufficient on a national scale. Nevertheless, they are considered more reliable than expert guesses in estimating some of the products.

The production, consumption and trade in wood products can be grouped under four sectors. These are housing, energy, utility transmissions and the printing. Of all the products, the energy sector produces and consumes most of the wood products, followed by construction and energy.

Wood industries in Uganda are mainly in the sawmilling business. There are two categories of sawmilling, depending on whether they use machines (mobile sawmills and large-scale sawmills or hands (handsaws such as two man-cross-cut saws and other hand tools

Currently, there are more than fifty registered companies who operate mobile sawmills with average daily production of around 8 cubic metres of sawnwood, although there are a few with higher outputs than this. Most of the harvesting operations are in the old and mature pine plantations in the forest reserves managed by the FD.

The group of other sawmillers is the pitsawers who operate handsaws and other handtools. Although their production on individual or group basis is negligible, on a national scale, they constitute more than half of the timber produced in the country.