Over 2500 residents are complaining about the uncontrolled levels of pollution from Mayuge
Sugar factory.
The residents who say the pollution is threatening their lives come from Imanyiiro sub county in the villages of; Buvuna, Lugolole, Bufulubi zone A and Bufulubi zone B.
Residents say that they suffer both air pollution from
bagasse and water pollution through a bad odur liquid emitted from the factory
drainage systems to their water streams and gardens.
Awali Tezikuba, the L.C.1 chairperson of Bufulubi zone B
says that boreholes and the wells have been polluted with bagasse
forcing residents to travel long distances in a bid to collect
safe water from the neighboring villages.
//cue in: “tukali…
Cue out…abantu.”//
Robert Kaluma, a resident of Lugolole village says that
smoke emitted from bagasse causes frequent coughs and efforts for redress from
factory owners have failed.
//cue in: “abayindi…
Cue out…balwaile.”//
Ali Boogere, a resident of Buvuna village says that crops
have dried up due to the pollution which flows from the factory’s drainage systems
to their gardens.
//cue in: “Tulikubona…
Cue out…emberi.”//
Karim Munobwa, another resident says that bagasse are indecomposable
components which have mixed with their soils and made them unsuitable for
agriculture as most crops get affected within a month of planting them.
//cue in: “eitaka…
Cue out…kulyonona.”//
James Kayanga, the councilor representing Bufulubi parish
says that leaders at sub county level have engaged the factory owners to
eliminate pollution, but all in vain.
//cue in: “iffe…
Cue out…elikubaluma.”//
Maxwell Mukisa, the district speaker says that their
efforts to engage factory owners have not yielded anything and has called upon
the Ministry of water and environment to prevail over the situation.
//cue in: “we have picked…
Cue out…to the atmosphere.”//
Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from management of Mayuge Sugar factory have turned futile as all top officials are reportedly off for holiday during the festive season.
