NEMA boss evicts neighbour over foul smell

WAKISO - A prominent farmer in Nkumba, Wakiso District, has made a heartfelt appeal to President Yoweri Museveni for intervention after the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) issued an eviction notice threatening to displace him from land he has occupied and developed since 2000.

Lawrence Nkalubo, a well-established poultry and piggery farmer in Bendegere Village, Nkumba Parish, Katabi Sub-county, has been given just 21 days by NEMA to vacate the six-acre land where he operates a farm with 40,000 layer chickens and 100 pigs.

The farm employs over 30 people.

Nkalubo said he started the farm in 2000, and that his agricultural venture has not only provided employment for local youth but has also helped improve livelihoods in the area.

He recalls a moment of pride years ago when President Museveni visited his farm and even extended financial support to help expand his operations.

“It is shocking to be treated like a trespasser after all these years,” Nkalubo said. “I have been running my farm legally and transparently for more than two decades. The President himself endorsed my work.”

To reach this magnitude of investment, Nkalubo says he took a sh1b loan from Post Bank and another sh600m from Centenary Bank, which he is servicing from the revenue he gets from the farm.

“Centenary Bank paid Biyinzika Poultry to supply me 600,000 chicks, which I am receiving in August. Honestly, I am puzzled. I don’t know what's next! Where to put the chicks that are coming! I am not in a wetland, no one has ever condemned my farm,” Nkalubo said in grief.

Nkalubo says he put in place proper waste disposal systems to prevent pollution.

NEMA Executive Director (ED), Akankwasa Barirega, who recently acquired land next to Nkalubo’s farm and in what analysts said appears as conflict of interest, says the continuation of emission of foul smell from chicken and pig rearing activities was inconveniencing him.

In a letter to Nkalubo dated Monday, June 23, 2025, Barirega gave him 21 days from the date of receipt of the environment restoration order within which to comply and shut down the farm.

“The environment restoration order comes into effect from the date of receipt thereof,” Barirega stated.

Barirega explained that, “two systematic inspections were conducted by a team from NEMA on February 7, 2025 and June 13, 2025, to ascertain the complaint of alleged pollution and generation of a foul smell from chicken and pig farm located in Bendegere Village, in Nkumba Parish, Katabi Subcounty, in Wakiso District.”

The NEMA boss said rearing of chicken and pigs that release foul smell inconveniences the neighbouring residents, denying them the right to a healthy and clean environment.

Lawrence Nkalubo, a well-established poultry and piggery farmer in Bendegere Village, Nkumba Parish, Katabi Sub-county, has been given just 21 days by NEMA to vacate the six-acre land where he operates a farm with 40,000 layer chickens and 100 pigs.

He explained that this is provided for under Article 39 of the Constitution of Uganda and section 3 of the National Environment Act Cap 181.

“Poor waste management practices at the facility [is] contrary to the provisions under sections 78, 96 and 103 (2) of the NEMA Act and other provisions of the National Environment (Waste Management) regulations, 2020,” he stated.

Akankwasa also noted that “operations of a farm with over 1,000 chickens without the relevant approvals from NEMA [is] contrary to Schedule 5(6)(d) and section 112 of the NEMA Act.”

He described Nkalubo’s actions as illegal and tantamount to criminal offences under section 157 (a), 162 and 163 of the NEMA Act and the attendant regulations.

“You are therefore ordered to comply with the following environmental restoration orders: Stop with immediate effect all activities and operations that lead to the generation of foul smel and poor management of waste; demolish all the illegal farm structures constructed without approvals; remove any material waste or refuse deposited in, on, under or around the land generating foul smell; clean up the pollution using the best available techniques; and desist from conducting any activities that cause pollution or are deleterious to human health and the environment,” Akankwasa directed.

National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) ED Akankwasa Barirega

This he said, should be done within 21 days from receipt of the letter.

Akankwasa warned Nkalubo that, “take notice that NEMA may recover as a civil debt in court the expense incurred by it or by any other authorised person in the exercise of the enforcement of this environmental restoration order.”

He further warned, “Failure to comply with the above directives/order within the stipulated timeframe shall result in NEMA or any authorised officer taking action in line with section 133 of the NEMA Act.”

Akankwasa told Nkalubo that the environmental restoration order, “shall remain in force until the restoration is complied with to the satisfaction of NEMA, and it does not bar the Authority from taking criminal proceedings against you.”

He also informed Nkalubo that he had a right to apply to NEMA for review or appeal of the environmental restoration order within 21 days of receipt of the order and in accordance with section 132 of the NEMA Act.

According to Bendegere Local Council I Chairperson, Samuel Mpanga, Nkalubo’s farm has operated for a long time without any prior complaints from community members or environmental agencies.

“This farm has brought nothing but development. There have been no reports of pollution, and Nkalubo has maintained proper waste management. No one has ever reported his activities as a threat to the environment,” Mpanga noted.

“This sudden action raises questions about whether there is an underlying motive, perhaps involving land wrangles.”

Mpanga and some community members fear that the closure of the farm would not only impact food production but also lead to job losses for dozens of workers, many of whom are young people who had previously struggled to find employment.

Godfrey Mubiru, a resident in Nkumba, said they had greatly benefited from the farm and many youth reformed from criminality. “It would be inconsiderate and selfish for someone to just come and close a farm that has been beneficial and has turned our lives around,” he said.