Residents of Luwero District have raised concerns over what they describe as growing air and water pollution from Victoria Sugar Factory, saying the emissions are affecting their health, food, and water sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villagers in Yandwe, Ndibulungi, Kakabala, Nnalongo and several surrounding communities say smoke and soot from the factory have become a daily challenge. Local leaders warn that unless the problem is addressed, it could evolve into a serious public health crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buule Kose Kizito, the LC1 chairman of Yandwe, said the issue has become widespread.
\u201cThick smoke breaks into particles and spreads across our homes. Many people here are coughing and suffering from flu-like symptoms. We ask government to compel factories to operate with safeguards so our communities are not left exposed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other residents described daily inconveniences. \u201cWhen you hang clothes outside, they get covered with black dust. The same particles fall on the iron sheets we use to collect rainwater, leaving it dirty and unsafe,\u201d said Robert Seru, a farmer in Yandwe 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luwero District Councillor for Butuntumula Sub-County, Isaac Wampamba, said the community has complained for years.
\u201cThere is constant noise and soot covering fruits and vegetables. Some families have even stopped eating their greens. As local leaders we tried to engage Victoria Sugar but didn\u2019t get a positive response. Government should act now because the communities feel abandoned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local traders like Rehema Nantongo added that the pollution affects both food and livestock. \u201cThe particles fall in our gardens, and everything you harvest is coated in soot. Even animals that eat the grass fall sick. We fear this smoke is dangerous to our health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NEMA Steps In<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to the concerns, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) pledged to follow up on the latest complaints. Executive Director Dr. Barirega Akankwasah said the Authority would dispatch a team.
\u201cWe shall send inspectors to find out about this latest complaint of particles,\u201d he said. \u201cThe other time it was water pollution. Now I will send inspectors for air quality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wider Health Concerns<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uganda is already struggling with rising health complications linked to environmental hazards. The Uganda Cancer Institute estimates the country now records about 33,000 new cancer cases every year, double the number from a decade ago. Experts warn that industrial emissions and urban air pollution are major risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 2023 study by Makerere University\u2019s School of Public Health reported higher incidences of chronic coughs, asthma, and suspected lung complications among residents in industrial zones of Kampala and Wakiso compared to those in rural areas. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has also listed air pollution among the top five threats to public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Globally, the World Health Organization attributes about seven million premature deaths annually to air pollution, with developing countries carrying the highest burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Call for Action<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents argue that the situation in Luwero is a reminder that Uganda\u2019s growing industries must operate responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They want independent tests of air and water quality, stricter enforcement of pollution standards, and closer coordination between government regulators and factory owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur health and environment should not be sacrificed for development,\u201d said Kizito. \u201cWe need industries that grow without destroying the communities around them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Residents of Luwero District have raised concerns over what they describe as growing air and water pollution from Victoria Sugar Factory, saying the emissions are affecting their health, food, and water sources. Villagers in Yandwe, Ndibulungi, Kakabala, Nnalongo and several surrounding communities say smoke and soot from the factory have become a daily challenge. Local […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":40351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[31],"class_list":["post-40350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-featured"],"yoast_head":"\n