By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
Court presided over by the Chief Magistrate of the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu, has convicted and fined Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL) UGX 180 million over illegal discharge of industrial effluent onto neighbouring land and into a section of the River Nile.
The ruling was delivered on 1st June, 2026, after the company pleaded guilty to committing the offense.
Based on court evidence, NYTIL was found guilty with unlawfully discharging pollutants into the environment in violation of Uganda’s environmental laws and standards under Criminal Case No. SUW 118/2026.
Prosecution told court that between April 2024 and November 2025, the company discharged industrial effluent from its facility in Buikwe District onto neighbouring land and into a section of the River Nile without meeting the prescribed environmental standards.
In her ruling, Her Worship Kamasanyu imposed a fine of UGX 180 million and ordered the company to restore the affected land and the polluted section of the River Nile within 30 days.
She also directed National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to monitor the restoration process and file a compliance report.
The Head Corporate Communications at NEMA, Naomi Karekaho, welcomed the ruling, saying it underscores the importance of compliance with environmental laws and the principle that polluters must take responsibility for restoring degraded ecosystems
She noted that Section 163 of the National Environment Act, Cap. 181 prohibits the discharge of pollutants contrary to prescribed standards.
