The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested two individuals linked to suspected environmental violations at Oil Buster Industries Ltd, a used oil refining facility in Bumbajja Village, Nakisunga Sub-county, Mukono District.

The arrests followed a snap inspection on Wednesday, triggered by growing public complaints and media reports about suspected pollution in the area.

NEMA officials say the facility is under investigation for multiple breaches of environmental standards, including oil spills, improper waste disposal, and the absence of a functioning effluent treatment system.

“There is also evidence suggesting oil waste has been dumped and burnt on private land, approximately one kilometre from the facility,” NEMA confirmed in a statement. “This practice poses serious risks to nearby communities and ecosystems.”

The agency says the two individuals taken into custody will assist with ongoing investigations aimed at determining the extent of environmental damage caused by the facility’s operations.

“This is part of a broader fact-finding process to guide appropriate regulatory action,” said Naomi N. Karekaho, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit at NEMA. “We assure the public that further investigations are underway and that enforcement measures will be taken where necessary.”

Under Uganda’s National Environment Act, Cap. 181, polluters found culpable can face fines ranging from shs3 million to shs 6 billion, or even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense.

Karekaho emphasized NEMA’s zero-tolerance approach to pollution:

“NEMA remains committed to enforcing environmental laws and ensuring facilities operate within approved standards to safeguard public health and the environment.”

The latest enforcement effort comes amid growing scrutiny over industrial waste management practices in Uganda, especially among facilities dealing with hazardous materials like used oil.

NEMA did not disclose whether Oil Buster Industries Ltd was in possession of a valid environmental compliance license at the time of the inspection.

Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.