"Tororo locals fault cement factory over air pollution"

Residents living near Hima Cement factory in Tororo District have said their lives are at risk due to dust, gas emissions and vibration from machines.The most affected locals from Nyakesi E Village, Nyakesi Parish in Nyangole Sub-county, said the dust and chemicals being charged in the air have continued to pollute their environment. They said this during a community engagement with the factory management at the weekend at Nyakesi E Village, where they noted that despite their numerous complaints to the district leadership, they have not been helped...

The village chairperson, Mr Peter Kamonya, said although the factory has provided employment opportunities, the environmental hazards such as emission of poisonous chemicals are putting their lives at risk. “Our relationship between the factory and the surrounding communities has been so good until recently when it started discharging smoke and dust, which have adverse negative impact on our health,” he said... The Tororo District Councillor representing Nyangole Sub-county, Mr  Patrick Omare, said he has on numerous occassions made efforts to contact the company management but they seem not bothered to improve the situation...

However, Mr Samuel Onyango, who represented the company at the dialogue, apologised to the community  and said they are working towards addressing these challenges. He added that besides the current catastrophe, the company has continued to extend and offer services under the corporate social responsibility arrangement to local communities. “We are offering scholarships to best performing candidates in Primary Leaving Examinations, among other things,” he said.