A foul stench has engulfed Luzira,a Kampala suburb sparking a wave of online complaints from frustrated residents who blame the nauseating odor on effluents from Nile Breweries and Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL).
The situation gained widespread attention after Augustine Ruzindana, a respected retired politician and former NRM stalwart turned opposition figure, took to social media to call for urgent action.
In his widely shared post, Ruzindana decried the worsening air quality, noting that the smell, which had subsided for some time, has now returned with even greater intensity.
He described it as “suffocating,” particularly at night and in the early morning when fewer competing odors mask its potency.
“This is from the brewery effluents. Those concerned should act fast to clear the source of the stench for good,” he urged.
His post triggered an outpouring of similar grievances from Luzira residents, many of whom say they are struggling to cope with the unbearable smell.
“We have children here; this is a health hazard,” one resident lamented. Another wrote, “Why do authorities allow this to happen year after year? Do we have to beg for clean air?”
Adding weight to the public outcry, former New Vision CEO Robert Kabushenga, in an equally fiery post, warned that the pollution is not only affecting the air but also contaminating Lake Victoria, a crucial water source for millions.
“There is a foul smell coming out of Lake Victoria on the Port Bell/Luzira side of Kampala. It is SEWAGE on steroids,” Kabushenga wrote.
“This is the source of water we are consuming in Kampala, Wakiso, Entebbe, right through to Busoga and Busia. It is also where we get our fresh fish!”
Nile Breweries and UBL, two of Uganda’s largest beer manufacturers, have long been under scrutiny for their industrial waste management practices.
While both companies have in the past pledged commitment to environmental sustainability, the ongoing crisis raises serious concerns about corporate responsibility and regulatory enforcement.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) are yet to respond to the growing outrage.
However, with a respected political figure like Ruzindana amplifying the issue, pressure is mounting on authorities to take decisive action before the situation spirals further out of control.
In 2020 National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) listed UBL as the top polluter of Lake Victoria.
