The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents and environmental activists are up in arms against Sino Minerals Investments, a company mining Iron ore in Buhara sub-county, Kabale district over environmental destruction.
They argue that the company has resorted to directly pouring dirty water into a nearby stream and trench. The company is also accused of dumping residues into Kyaase wetland putting resident lives in danger.
Julius Byamukama, a concerned resident of Kyaase village says that when the company started operations, it bought land in the nearby wetland which was turned into a dumping site for the residues. Byamukama says that the residues have blocked water from flowing.
He wants top government officials to intervene and stop the company from dumping contaminated water into the wetland.
Alphonse Begyira, a dairy farmer in Kyaase village says that the company recently drained polluted water into the nearby stream and trenches. He says that because all the waters have changed their color to brown, his cattle can’t consume the dirty water.
Milton Kwesiga, the Executive Director for Disaster Reduction Research and Emergency Missions, a voluntary non-profit organization advocating for environmental protection in the Kigezi sub-region says that dumping residues in the wetland has suffocated fish projects in the area.
Sam Kyomukama, an officer in charge of the Police Protection Unit for the Kigezi region says that they have asked the management of the factory to stop draining polluted water into the stream.
Brian Munanura, Operations Manager for Sino Minerals Investments says that the plant developed a leakage on Sunday when a pipe burst. Munanura however says that efforts are being made to have the problem rectified.
Munanura adds that the company is in a process of buying more pipes so that in case one bursts, it is immediately replaced without causing leakage.
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This is an interesting story at variance with the National Environment management Act, 2019
It is interesting because the community identifies the breach in the practice
It therefore becomes unbelievable when Institutions are indifferent to observing standards that would otherwise protect the environment from similar waste
The environmental Impact Assessment should be done by the area Local Government forthwith to avert the environmental pollution directly affecting the ecosystem there in KYASE LC1, BUHARA SUB-COUNTY, KABALE DISTRICT.
The said company should be restrained from the normal operations if the said mayhem is hardly worked on with immediate effect.