The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has officially refuted allegations that Victoria Sugar Factory in Luweero District is causing environmental pollution. According to NEMA spokesperson Ms. Naomi Namara, investigations have shown no evidence linking the sugar factory to the reported environmental degradation in the area.
In a statement released on Thursday, Ms. Namara clarified that while pollution has indeed been reported near Victoria Sugar’s location, it is not coming from the factory itself. She indicated that the pollution stems from other nearby companies, with NEMA dispatching a team of inspectors to identify the true sources of the environmental issues.
“The pollution has been reported in the area where Victoria Sugar is located, but it’s not coming from them. The pollution is originating from other factories in the region,” Ms. Namara said.
The clarification follows several weeks of media coverage in which local residents and environmental activists raised concerns about the factory’s potential environmental impact.
Victoria Sugar’s Response
Reacting to the accusations, the head of operations at Victoria Sugar Factory, Mr. Nasif Ismail, strongly refuted the claims, suggesting that the allegations were made by competitors seeking to tarnish the factory’s reputation.
“I want to make it categorically clear that these are allegations by self-centered individuals, primarily our competitors, aiming to damage the good name of our factory,” Mr. Ismail asserted.
Mr. Ismail also emphasized that Victoria Sugar adheres strictly to NEMA’s regulations, noting that the factory has installed state-of-the-art pollution monitoring equipment, which is directly controlled by NEMA. According to him, these systems ensure that pollution levels are constantly monitored, and the results are accessible to NEMA at all times.
“We’ve installed pollution monitoring equipment that is directly controlled by NEMA. Everything is closely observed and regulated by their office. So, we’re fully compliant with the latest environmental standards,” Mr. Ismail said.
Furthermore, Mr. Ismail raised concerns over the inconsistency of the allegations, particularly with regard to the location of the complaints. He pointed out that the accusations originated from residents of Yandwe 1 village, located several kilometers away, instead of from the neighboring village of Ndibulungi, where the factory is based.
“It is curious why the complaints are coming from Yandwe 1 village, and not from Ndibulungi, where our factory is situated,” he remarked.
NEMA to Continue Investigation
Despite the clarification from both Victoria Sugar and NEMA, the investigation remains ongoing. NEMA has assured the public that any factory found violating environmental laws will face strict action in line with the country’s environmental protection guidelines.
As the investigation continues, residents of Luweero remain hopeful that the true source of the pollution will be identified and dealt with appropriately.
