More than 50 distillers release waste into surrounding water bodies. Workers say the stench is...
Mbale Industrial Park, which was commissioned by President Museveni in 2018, is struggling to stay afloat as waste water, constant power outages and malaria outbreak, hits the factory workers.
River Nashibisho, which runs through the park, is filled with black, foul-smelling waste water due to poor disposal of the waste product from waragi (liquor) distilling in Musoto, one of the suburbs in Maluku ward in the Industrial Division in Mbale City.
The area has more than 50 distillers on a large scale and several others doing it on a small scale. Daily Monitor learned that the distillers release the waste which spills to all the surrounding streams and water bodies, including River Nashibisho, changing the colour of the water to black.
The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) tried five years ago to control the activity and engaged distillers in setting up a treatment plant for the waste, but it never saw the light of day. The workers at the park say the water stagnates for months, creating large pools of breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
"The stench is unbearable, especially during the evening hours. Mosquitoes give us sleepless nights. I have not worked for days this month because of malaria," Ms Agnes Nambozo Nafuna, one of the workers at Xinlong textile factory, said.
During a visit to the park by the Minister of State for Privatisation and Investment, Ms Amina Mukalazi, the State Minister for Public Service, Lydia Wanyoto, and officials from Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) at the weekend, the deputy managing director of Tian Tang Group, Mr Owen Jin said the cases of malaria have doubled.
"There is a problem of polluted water from waragi making villages. We are registering many malaria cases. Nema stopped them but they resumed," he said.
Ms Rhoda Nyaribi, the Mbale City environmental officer also acknowledged the challenge in an interview with Daily Monitor, and observed that there has been huge negative effects on the environment and human life due to the activities of the distillers. "When they release the waste, they release it when it is hot. It runs through those drainage channels and eventually into the river. Waste products kill all the microorganisms in the soil," she said.
She explained that the contaminated water ends up at the stream that flows through the industrial park and it causes a stench for the community. She said engagement for all stakeholders is ongoing to find a lasting solution.
Mr Jin said unstable power supply continues to affect production and damage equipment. "Repeated power outages and low voltage have disrupted operations, damaged machinery and caused substantial financial losses," he said, adding that the park experiences about 15 times of power outage or out-balanced power supply on a monthly basis.
He said the government promised to equip the park with a 240 MW substation, which they have never received.
"The government should expedite the installation of 240 megawatt permanent power stations to enable factories to get reliable electricity, which is essential for industrial competitiveness and economic growth," he said.
The Sino-Uganda Mbale industrial park with a total investment portfolio of Shs2.2 trillion or ($600), is home to about 90 companies, out of which 72 are operational. It sits on 619-acre land and currently employs more than 14,000. The factories produce, among other products, textile, electronics, tempered glass, cables and electricity metres, lights and other domestic wares such as soap and washing powder.
Mr Laurent Zhang, the administration manager at Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, said there is also increasing road accidents near the park's main entrance due to lack of road signage and traffic police on Mbale-Tirinyi road.
"Workers risk their lives every day while crossing to access the park. We have registered 20 accidents in a period of two months. The issue was reported to the Ministry of Works and Transport, but no action has been taken yet," he said.
Mr Luke Wang, the director of Tian Tang Group, also asked for enhanced security to protect the investors. "One of the investors was recently attacked during a night shift and sustained serious injuries. We have already registered incidents of fire outbreaks and made huge losses. We appeal to government to enhance our security and provide us with fire fighting equipment," he said.
The Ms Mukalazi, who toured a number of factories, said government is working to address these challenges. "The government support towards strengthening security, improving fire-fighting systems, addressing waste management challenges and resolving electricity supply interruption affecting industries, is already in the pipeline and in some areas, funds have been allocated already," she said.
Mr Robert Mukiza, the director general of Uganda Investment Authority, said government has released funds for road maintenance and widening of River Nashibisho.
Ms Wanyoto, who is the Woman MP for Mbale City, said the park should also improve sanitation facilities and storage spaces at the park market.
ABOUT THE PARK
The Sino-Uganda Mbale industrial park with a total investment portfolio of Shs2.2 trillion or ($600), is home to about 90 companies. It sits on 619 acres and employs more than 14,000. The factories produce textile, electronics, tempered glass, cables and electricity metres, lights and other domestic wares.
