KAMPALA, Uganda — The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has intensified its enforcement efforts against noise pollution in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
According to Naomi N. Karekaho, the Head of the Corporate Communications Unit at NEMA, the authority is dedicated to protecting the right of all Ugandans to a clean and healthy environment, a right guaranteed by Article 39 of the Constitution.
The recent operation, conducted over the weekend, targeted facilities that continue to violate noise pollution regulations.
Noise-generating equipment was impounded from non-compliant establishments in various areas, including Mukono, Seeta, Bweyogerere, Kireka, and Namugongo.
NEMA’s actions are a response to the growing public outcry over excessive noise, which is linked to several health risks, such as stress, hearing loss, and reduced productivity.
Noise pollution also negatively impacts community well-being, affecting schools, hospitals, places of worship, and residential areas.
The authority urges proprietors of bars, entertainment venues, places of worship, and other facilities that use amplified sound to comply with established noise standards.
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This initiative is part of NEMA’s broader commitment to enforcing the National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations of 2003.
In related news, the Environmental Police have pledged their support to lead agencies like the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and NEMA in enforcing noise ordinances.
They will use sound meters to measure acceptable noise levels and impose penalties on habitual noise producers who fail to cooperate.
