By Sadique Bamwita
MAKINDYE
The Makindye Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court on March 4, 2026, convicted a local investor, the Managing Director of PRO Industries Pte Limited over illegal discharge of untreated industrial waste into the Ngaju Wetland in Ndibulungi Village, Kakabala Parish, Butuntumula Sub-county, Luweero District along the Kampala– Gulu Highway.
Caeser Adrian Mugabe, was convicted by Makindye Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu, but prior to being sentenced, he pleaded guilty on behalf of the company, admitting that his facility discharged untreated wastewater and sludge into the wetland.
He further told court that the company has since installed a new treatment system and taken corrective measures.
In her ruling, Her worship Gladys Kamasanyu fined the company Shs75 million and ordered it to fully restore the degraded wetland area within 30 days, under the supervision of NEMA.
“The company was charged with failure to comply with the conditions stipulated in the Certificate of Approval of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), contrary to Section 157(f) and (ii) of the National Environment Act, Cap. 181”a statement from NEMA read.
Prosecution contends that between November 2025 and January 2026, PRO Industries Pte Limited despite holding Certificate No. NEMA/EIA/16265 was found to be in violation of Conditions 4.2 and 4.5 of the certificate by discharging untreated wastewater and sludge into the wetland.
Prosecution noted that untreated effluent had spread into the wetland and onto private property, vegetation and neighbouring gardens had dried up due to this contamination. Water samples collected from the site had carbon dioxide levels exceeding permissible effluent discharge standards.
