By Eye Media Uganda
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has dismissed reports that Victoria Sugar Factory in Luweero District is polluting the environment, pinning the allegations on rival companies and misinformation.
Speaking on Thursday, NEMA Spokesperson Naomi Namara confirmed that while cases of environmental abuse have been recorded in the area, investigations exonerated Victoria Sugar.
“The pollution being reported is from that area where Victoria Sugar is located, but it is not coming from the factory itself,” Ms. Namara told journalists. “Our inspectors are already on the ground to identify the true source and take action against the culprits.”
Factory Management Speaks Out
The head of operations at Victoria Sugar, Mr. Nasif Ismail, described the accusations as deliberate sabotage by competitors.
“These are baseless allegations by selfish individuals and our rivals trying to tarnish our image,” Mr. Ismail charged.
He noted that the factory complies fully with NEMA’s new regulations, including the installation of pollution monitoring equipment directly linked to NEMA’s central control office.
“Everything is observed from their headquarters. Whoever claims we are polluting simply doesn’t understand the system,” he added.
Mr. Ismail further questioned why residents of Yandwe I village were fronting complaints, yet the factory itself is situated in Ndibulungi village where no grievances have been registered.
Local Government View
The Luweero District Natural Resources Officer, Ms. Teopista Gateese, also backed NEMA’s findings, saying no dark smoke had ever been observed from the factory’s premises.
“As NEMA agents at grassroots, we have not encountered the smoke being alleged,” she stated.
Ms. Gateese criticized leaders who rush to the media without first consulting her office, describing it as “irresponsible.” She pledged to join NEMA in deeper investigations once formally notified.
Residents React
A resident of Ndibulungi village, Mr. Godfrey Mukasa, dismissed the pollution claims as unfounded.
“I live right next to the factory. I have never seen or experienced any problem from it,” he testified.
This contradicts earlier media reports quoting locals who claimed to suffer from coughs, stained clothes, and contaminated water, allegedly due to emissions from the sugar plant.
Ms. Gateese reminded the public that similar accusations had been raised before but were proven false by NEMA investigations.
✅ The Eye Media Take:
With NEMA, district officials, and residents where the factory sits all clearing Victoria Sugar, the pollution narrative appears to have been fueled by misinformation and possible corporate rivalry. Still, with inspectors dispatched, the public awaits to see which companies will be unmasked as the true polluters.
