Namanve residents appeal for government action over factory pollution

9 August 2026, 1:54 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Residents living near factories in Namanve, Mukono District, have appealed to the Government and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to intervene over what they describe as increasing air pollution and other environmental challenges caused by factories in the area.

The residents claim that some factory owners are putting profits ahead of the health and safety of people living nearby, saying exposure to smoke, dust and chemical fumes has caused various health challenges, particularly respiratory problems.

Speaking to journalists today, residents called on NEMA and other relevant authorities to investigate their complaints and take action to protect the community.

Hajji Hamza Arinaitwe, a resident, said his children have experienced serious breathing difficulties, which he attributes to smoke coming from nearby factories.

Arinaitwe said residents previously reported their concerns to NEMA but have not received a satisfactory response.

“If the Government wants this place, let them compensate us. We shall leave freely. But our children have become so sick because of those factories and those people; they don’t care. The smoke that comes out is so dangerous, to the extent that it can badly affect your lungs. We therefore appeal to the Government and NEMA to come to our rescue. When we wrote to NEMA, we did not receive a response, but they received our complaints. We love development, but we must be considered,” he said.

Other residents warned that they could resort to demonstrations if the authorities fail to address their concerns.

They, however, said they support industrial development because factories provide employment opportunities, especially for young people.

“If they don’t come to our rescue, we are going to demonstrate. Actually, that is the last option. We love our Government and we welcome development because those factories have employed so many people, especially young people who would have participated in wrong deeds. Our prayer is simple: let these people respect the environment. They are destroying the environment in the name of development. We know the Government gets money from these factories, but they should investigate our situation so that it is a win-win situation,” they said.

Environmental experts have warned that industrial activities can contribute to several forms of pollution if not properly managed. Smoke, dust and chemical fumes can worsen respiratory problems and cause coughing and eye irritation.

Factory waste discharged into rivers and streams can also contaminate water sources and harm aquatic life, while chemicals and heavy metals released into the soil can affect agricultural production.

Residents living near industrial areas can also be affected by excessive noise from machinery, poor drainage and waste disposal, which may contribute to flooding and other environmental challenges.

The concerns come at a time when the Government has allocated significant resources towards environmental protection and climate change response. In the current financial year, about UGX 514 billion has been allocated to environmental protection programmes, while UGX 132 billion under the Ministry of Water and Environment framework is earmarked for climate change response activities.

The residents are now calling on NEMA and other responsible authorities to inspect the affected areas, investigate their complaints and ensure that industrial development does not come at the expense of people’s health and the environment.