‘Keep Your Trash In The Car Or Pay Instant Fine Of 6 Million- NEMA Introduces Express Penalty Scheme To Promote Cleanness

In a bid to promote cleanliness in and around the city, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA ) has announced an express penalty scheme targeting violators of the law including people found throwing trash out of their car windows.

According to NEMA Executive Director, Dr Akankwasa Barirega starting April 1, violators of the law will have to pay an instant fine of UGX 6 million.

“We get you breaching an environment requirement, you get an invoice and pay to government to clean up for the mess that you have done. If you dispose of waste on a roadside for example throwing around maize cobs or meat sticks or bottles throw the window of your car, we will give you an invoice for a fine of shs6 million,” Dr Barirega said while addressing journalists in Kampala.

Quoting the amended National Environment Act 2019, he said leaving rubbish outside residential premises or littering from commercial buildings will also attract a maximum fine of shs6 million to offenders whereas the fine will be the same for those who deposit rubbish in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and channels.

The NEMA Executive Director said that offenders who don’t have dust bins in their vehicles will also be fined up to shs6 million in the new express penalty scheme.

He noted that the express penalty scheme which is similar to the one for traffic police will also affect those who fail to conduct environmental and social impact assessment and environmental risk assessment for projects that require the same and that these will be fined up to shs1 billion or 15 years in prison or both whereas corporate bodies who breach this provision will pay up to shs6 billion.

Those found destroying, damaging or disturbing wetlands in a manner that has or is likely to have an adverse effect on any plant or animal will pay a fine of up to shs3 million.

“Under the express penalty scheme, the offender will be required to pay the fine within a prescribed time frame and in a specific bank account. This is intended to deter non-compliance to environmental laws and to prevent environmental degradation through payment of fines,” Dr Barirega said.

He however noted that a person who doesn’t prefer a voluntary fine will be subject to prosecution and imprisonment or both when they go to court.

“This express penalty scheme is purely voluntary. We shall be working with other agencies including Police, UPDF, NEMA inspectors, UNRA, Uganda Wildlife Authority and National Forestry Authority to enforce this. We are also establishing the environment protection force to enforce this,” Dr Barirega said.
On the issue of having dustbins in the vehicles, the traffic police will be stopping and checking cars for them and if found without, drivers will be liable to pay shs6 million penalties.

The NEMA Executive Director said the move is not aimed at ensuring the government gets money but to be punitive and they will have to deal with corrupt officials.

“We shall address the corruption of our people through counterintelligence and automation of systems. Whereas I cannot rule out corruption 100%, there are mechanisms to counter it including prosecution of our very own,” Dr Barirega said.