The community in Nakiwogo, Entebbe, has raised an alarm, urging responsible authorities to remove burnt mosquito nets and debris that have been dumped near a local school. Residents fear that the presence of this waste may lead to the spread of diseases and pose significant environmental and health risks.

Speaking to the press, environmental activist and former councilor of Kiwafu East, Kitooro Central, and Kiwafu West, Ms. Asumpta Nakamya, called upon the Ministry of Health, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the National Medical Stores (NMS), and DAS Handling Ltd to take swift action to address the situation.

The waste, which includes burnt mosquito nets, was disposed of on the grounds of Calvary Chapel Christian School in Nakiwogo, near Lake Victoria.

Ms. Nakamya expressed her concerns, saying, “It is a pity that a responsible organization like DAS could dump such seemingly dangerous substances in the community and right next to the market and the lake. The burnt substances are harmful to our health as they compromise the air we breathe, a danger to the environment and the nearby lake. The owners of the nets, NMS, should be even more concerned about the disposal method.”

The issue dates back to September 12 when mosquito nets worth billions of shillings, belonging to NMS, were destroyed in a fire that consumed a private warehouse owned by DAS Handling Ltd.

DAS Handling Ltd Managing Director, Marc De Leu, expressed regret over the incident. He explained, “We contracted a company, which assured us that they had an appropriate disposal facility, but we were surprised to find out that the items were disposed of on private land close to the community, which is wrong. We have now got in touch with another contractor to immediately remove the items and dispose of them properly.”

Efforts to obtain a comment from NMS proved to be challenging. The spokesperson, Ms. Sheila Nduhukire, was unreachable, and the General Manager, Mr. Moses Kamabare, did not respond to inquiries.

A video depicting the burnt mosquito nets dumped near Lake Victoria went viral on social media over the weekend. The video was accompanied by audio questioning the rationale behind dumping the items in this manner.

The concerns raised by the Nakiwogo community emphasize the importance of responsible waste disposal practices and the need for organizations to ensure the proper disposal of potentially hazardous materials. Swift action is required to address this issue and mitigate any potential health and environmental risks.