Court Fines NYTIL UGX 180 Million for Polluting River Nile
Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu, Chief Magistrate of the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, has convicted and fined Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL) UGX 180 million after the company pleaded guilty to illegally discharging industrial effluent into neighbouring land and a section of the River Nile.
The ruling was delivered in Criminal Case No. SUW 118/2026 and followed investigations by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), whose inspectors gathered evidence showing that the company discharged industrial effluent from its facility in Buikwe District onto adjacent land and into the River Nile between April 2024 and November 2025.
Court established that the discharge violated Uganda’s environmental laws and standards, amounting to unlawful pollution of both land and water systems connected to one of the country’s most important natural resources.
Upon conviction on Tuesday, 2nd June 2026, the court imposed a fine of UGX 180 million and issued a firm order requiring NYTIL to restore the affected land and the polluted section of the River Nile within 30 days.
The court further directed NEMA to monitor the restoration process and submit a compliance report upon completion.
NEMA inspectors, who initiated the investigation, told court that they had collected sufficient evidence demonstrating that industrial waste from the company’s operations was discharged without meeting prescribed environmental standards, leading to contamination of neighbouring land and a section of the River Nile.
The River Nile was repeatedly described in court proceedings as a critical national resource that supports water supply, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower generation, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of millions of people.
Environmental protection agencies have long emphasized that safeguarding its ecological integrity is essential for sustainable development and public wellbeing.
NEMA, in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Naomi N. Karekaho, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a major enforcement milestone.
“Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu, the Chief Magistrate of the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, has convicted and fined Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL) UGX 180 million after the company pleaded guilty to illegally discharging industrial effluent onto neighbouring land and into a section of the River Nile,” Naomi said in the statement.
She added that the River Nile remains a vital national resource supporting water supply, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower, biodiversity, and millions of livelihoods, stressing that its protection is essential for sustainable development and public well-being.
According to her statement, court heard that between April 2024 and November 2025, the company discharged industrial effluent from its facility in Buikwe District onto neighbouring land and into a section of the River Nile without meeting prescribed environmental standards.
She confirmed that upon conviction, the court imposed a UGX 180 million fine and ordered restoration of the affected environment within 30 days, while directing NEMA to supervise and report on compliance.
Naomi also cited Section 163 of the National Environment Act, Cap. 181, which prohibits discharge of pollutants contrary to prescribed standards and empowers courts to impose penalties and order restoration at the polluter’s cost.
NEMA welcomed the ruling, stating that "it reinforces compliance with environmental laws and the principle that polluters must be held responsible for restoring degraded ecosystems."
The River Nile, one of Uganda’s most important ecological and economic lifelines, remains central to national development, supporting agriculture, hydropower, tourism, fisheries, and biodiversity along its course.
However, environmental concerns persist over pollution pressures affecting major water bodies, including Lake Victoria and sections of the Nile system.
While enforcement actions have been taken against some industries, environmental observers note that accountability is often more difficult when pollution involves larger or more influential industrial actors. They warn that such enforcement gaps contribute to accelerating biodiversity loss, water contamination, and ecosystem degradation, despite existing environmental laws and regulatory frameworks.
Authorities maintain that continued enforcement, restoration orders, and monitoring remain key to protecting Uganda’s natural resources for future generations.
