Mbarara court remands hotel manager over illegal waste disposal

__________________

Mbarara City Court has charged and remanded Aggrey Muyambi, the manager of Sky Light Hotel on Rwizi Lane in Kihindi cell, Kakoba ward, Mbarara City South Division, for causing a public nuisance contrary to Sections 53(e) and 57(2) of the Public Health Act, Cap 310.

Muyambi, 34, a resident of Kihindi cell, was arrested on Monday, March 31, 2025, by city law enforcement officers before they closed the hotel over the illegal discharge of noxious wastewater into a public drainage channel.

Presiding over the case, Principal Magistrate Lwanga Nsibambi heard that on July 12, 2023, Muyambi was found discharging noxious wastewater into a drainage channel and onto neighbouring properties.

Muyambi denied the charges and requested bail.

However, public city prosecutor Alauterio Ntegyereize told the court that investigations were still ongoing and requested more time to conclude inquiries.

The magistrate acknowledged Muyambi’s constitutional right to bail but instructed him to present two sureties with valid documentation, including a national identity card and an introductory letter from the LC1 chairperson.

Ntegyereize, who also serves as Mbarara’s senior city legal officer, argued that since the sureties lacked the required documents, Muyambi effectively had no sureties. He asked the magistrate to remand the accused.

Nsibambi on Monday remanded Muyambi to Mbarara Main Prison until April 15, 2025, when his bail application will be heard.

Hotel closure

The operation to close Sky Light Hotel was led by Samuel Wori Aisu, the health officer for Mbarara City South Division, and Andrew Abaine Taremwa, the division’s enforcement officer.

The closure followed a notice issued on March 24, 2025, by Aisu to the hotel director, Turyatemba Medard, instructing him to rectify the issue or face closure.

Aisu’s directive came after a notice from Mbarara South Division town clerk Nelson Muhangi, issued in July 2023, ordering the hotel director to construct a septic or soak-away pit, maintain a clean environment, and stop the illegal discharge of wastewater.

The directive warned that failure to comply within the specified period would lead to legal action. However, the hotel management failed to take corrective measures.

A notice issued to the hotel stated: "You are aware that on or about 12th July 2023, an inspection was conducted on Sky Light Hotel, and it was found that your facility illegally discharges noxious wastewater into the public road drainage channel, in violation of Sections 50 and 53(e) of the Public Health Act, Cap. 310, and Section 96(1) & (2) of the National Environment Act, Cap. 181."

It further read: "Owing to the nuisance at your facility, a nuisance notice was issued on the same day, instructing you to rectify the situation within a specified period. To date, however, no corrective action has been taken, and the hazardous discharge persists, posing a serious public health and environmental risk."

Due to continued non-compliance, the authorities ordered the immediate closure of the premises under Section 89 of the Public Health Act, Cap. 310, and instructed the management to cease operations until the following corrective measures are fully implemented: immediate cessation of wastewater discharge into the public road drainage channel; installation of an appropriate wastewater treatment and disposal system in accordance with public health and environmental standards; and submission of a compliance report detailing remedial actions taken, subject to verification by relevant authorities.

Muyambi, the hotel manager, told New Vision that delays by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) officials in Mbarara had prevented them from connecting to the sewer system.

However, another source from Mbarara city authority said the hotel proprietor had not followed development guidelines during construction. The source noted that the hotel had been overbuilt, leaving no space for proper wastewater disposal.

According to physical planning and development guidelines, anyone constructing within the city must have an approved plan that conforms to the plot size and adheres to recommended standards.

"If it is commercial, you should not build over 70%, and if it is residential, you should not build more than 50%, because there must be green space in your compound for people to breathe fresh air," the source explained.