The Standards, Wildlife and Utilities Court in Makindye has convicted PRO Industries Pte Limited for illegally releasing untreated industrial waste into Ngaju Wetland in Luweero District.
The ruling followed a case brought by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), after the company admitted to discharging untreated wastewater and sludge into the protected wetland located in Ndibulungi Village, Kakabala Parish, Butuntumula Sub-county, along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu, the company’s manager, Adrian Caesar Mugabe, pleaded guilty on behalf of PRO Industries, acknowledging the environmental breach.
He informed the court that the company had since installed a new treatment system and undertaken corrective measures.
The court imposed a fine of Shs75 million and ordered PRO Industries to fully restore the degraded section of Ngaju Wetland within 30 days under NEMA supervision.
The company had been charged with failing to comply with conditions stipulated in its Certificate of Approval of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), contrary to Section 157 (i) and (ii) of the National Environment Act, Cap 181.
NEMA described the ruling as a strong message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated.
“Holding polluters accountable is vital to safeguarding communities, biodiversity, and national natural resources,” the Authority said, adding that the judgment reinforces efforts to uphold environmental protection laws.
Investigations revealed that between November 2025 and January 2026, despite holding Certificate No. NEMA/EIA/16265, PRO Industries violated Conditions 4.2 and 4.5 of its ESIA by releasing untreated effluent into the wetland.
Untreated wastewater reportedly spread beyond the wetland, drying up vegetation and damaging neighbouring gardens.
Water samples collected from the site showed carbon dioxide levels exceeding permissible effluent standards, raising concerns about long-term ecological damage.
The conviction comes amid increased enforcement by NEMA, which has vowed to continue prosecuting industries that flout environmental laws to protect Uganda’s fragile ecosystems.
