NEMA cracks down on environmental offenders

15 November 2025, 10:33 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) this week conducted operations in different parts of the country to prevent the nation from suffering the worst impacts of climate change. According to a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at NEMA, Naomi Karekaho, the authority on November 7th 2025 closed all operations at Galaxy Kana Universal Limited, an aluminum and stainless steel manufacturing plant in Kampala. Two directors, Nilux Bhatt and Nimith Bhatt, were also arrested over continuous air pollution.

Karekaho noted that before the arrests, NEMA had issued a stop notice in December 2024 regarding the same pollution concerns, but the issues remained unaddressed. Air quality measurements in several sections of the factory showed dangerously high levels of particulate matter. NEMA explained that such pollutants contribute to smog formation, acid rain, and climate change, damaging vegetation, soil, and water bodies, which could eventually lead to famine. For humans, exposure to these pollutants can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and weakened immune systems, with both short-term and long-term risks that may result in death.

In a related operation, NEMA responded to illegal sand mining along River Aswa in Akangi Village, Ogur Parish, Ogur Subcounty. The intervention was carried out through the regional office in Lira District during inspections and community sensitisation activities. NEMA emphasised that sand mining is a regulated activity that requires a permit. Their teams conduct inspections, and if illegal activity is confirmed, the individuals involved are either warned or subjected to enforcement action.

Additionally, in Kyenjojo District, NEMA’s enforcement team impounded two trucks belonging to Kyenjojo Sugar Factory for discharging industrial waste without a discharge permit. NEMA reminded the public that releasing untreated industrial waste into land or water is an offence under Regulation 23(b) of the National Environmental Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or Land (2020).

On matters of wetland protection, the law states that anyone who encroaches on a wetland commits an offence and is liable to a fine, imprisonment, or both. Despite this, the public has continued to urge NEMA to prioritise continuous sensitisation before enforcement, as seen recently in the Lubigi wetland operations. Many people argue they have no intention of harming the environment but sometimes feel left with no alternative due to economic pressures or lack of awareness.