Tension flared in Hoima City on Wednesday morning as a group of lorry drivers staged a protest outside the office of the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), demanding fair taxation and an end to what they described as harassment by officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The drivers, who transport sand, soil, bricks, and timber, parked their trucks at the RCC’s office, accusing NEMA of impounding their vehicles without proper explanation or prior sensitization.
They claim that NEMA’s enforcement teams unfairly target them instead of focusing on the business owners who control the sand and brick operations.
“We are tired of this. They keep impounding our vehicles without sensitizing us about the rules. We are just workers following instructions from our bosses,” said Johnson Kirungi, the drivers’ chairman.
In response to the growing unrest, Badru Mugabi, the Hoima City Resident City Commissioner, convened an emergency meeting with NEMA officials to address the drivers’ grievances.
Mugabi confirmed that NEMA’s operations to impound trucks have been temporarily suspended pending discussions between the city authorities, NEMA, and the drivers’ representatives.
“We have called off the operations for now. However, we urge all those involved in sand mining, brick making, and timber transportation to comply with NEMA’s environmental guidelines,” Mugabi stated.
The RCC emphasized that the government remains committed to environmental protection but will also ensure that enforcement is conducted fairly and with proper community engagement.