By Anzoo Evaline.

A total of 24 young adolescent persons living with HIV/AIDS and teenage mothers in Adjumani District have graduated after months of intensive skills training under a UNICEF-funded initiative aimed at empowering vulnerable youth with practical livelihood skills.

Iranya Ronald, the District Mentor, explained the background of the program.

“The YAPS program started in Adjumani in 2019. By then UNICEF was funding through AVSI. For you to qualify as YAPS, you must be virally suppressed and there must be consistency in taking your medication. And then you also have to be HIV positive and below the age of 22 years,” Iranya said.

He further revealed the financial support behind the initiative.

“UNICEF gave Adjumani District Local Government an amount of 91 million for skilling of the Yaps Today we graduate the 24 of them. At their graduation, they are given a start-up kit of 400,000 Universal and they get a stipend of a 3 months per month. They are given 140,000. So, at the end they will go home with Ugx 840,000/=,” Iranya added.

The beneficiaries were encouraged to make good use of the funds.

“They were encouraged to put this money into use to invest in their various uh projects. We will appeal that UNICEF continues uh supporting these young people because there are a lot of young positives outside there,” Iranya said.

For many of the graduates, the journey has been marked by stigma and hardship.

Atim Teddy Gloria shared her experience.

“When I was tested HIV positive that was 2017. From there, people most especially like the neighbors and some relatives of them, they were discriminating me and nicknaming me with various names like a walking stick, a standing coffin, and life was so hard. Just when I joined YAPS activity that was in 2000 At least from there I felt that I’m not left alone. So, I gain the fears were not there even the stigma wasn’t there,” Atim said.

Konyio Josephine Bakhita also narrated her story, “I was born in a family of 23 kids, and I happens to be the last born. I was tested positive when I was three, but then I don’t know what means by HIV. At times I will ask my mom, “Mom, why am I taking this medicine every day?” She tells me you are having a sickness that cannot be cured. In 2013, so they took us to the Hospital, but then they want to enroll us to ARV. That is when I knew I was HIV positive. I finished my senior for last year. Now, I chose the skill of art and craft. Right now, I can make a bag, a suit, a key holder, and I can sell. I really appreciate these people so much for this program.”

Leaders in the district used the occasion to call for greater responsibility among parents and communities.

Hon. Anyama Ben, LC5 Chairperson of Adjumani, said “UNICEF, as I said, as a long-term relationship with the district. I want to ask you, I’m very happy for the testimonies you gave before us here. If you pick these 10 months right, two things there. One, we, the parents, are abusing our responsibility. And we are abusing the rights of children because if you are forcing someone to marry, and you know this is a young girl that is abuse of children right. In that case, I want to say arising from these statements of these three girls here, we the leaders we must really put our parents to understand the situation on the ground because the future belong to the young generation.”

Resident District Commissioner Toko Swaib offered words of encouragement to the graduates, “Don’t give up. Life always has those rough paths. And the once you’re in that path, know that you are going to succeed. But when you give up, if only think things are not difficult, there are young persons like you who will now think perhaps I must commit suicide. Never give up. This was a language used by Churchill that never give up in life. Keep trying even when you meet challenges, try. One day you’ll succeed.”

The graduation marks not just the end of a training program, but the beginning of renewed hope for the young beneficiaries as they step forward to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.

END

By Onzima Allan

Administrators of Elegu Islamic Nursery And Primary School in Amuru district, together with surrounding communities across Acholi and west Nile, have unveiled a proposed fundraising drive scheduled for 10^th may 2026 .the initiative is aimed at supporting the completion of Salam mosque which is expected to play a key role in nurturing spiritual values and moral development among learners and wider community.

According to Juma Mahad, CEO Fundraiser, the mosque will nurture morals among learners and community, urging community support and complete it together.

Yagu Denis, the Head Teacher Elegu Islamic Nursery and Primary School, argued all districts to support the May 10^th mosque fundraiser, saying it will benefit both school and wider community.

Maliamungu Yassin, said it’s important to see young people guided in Islamic faith and emphasized the need for well-developed, harmonious mosque’

Lulua Jesca, said the mosque once completed, will bring spiritual services closer to the people and benefit the community over time.

The mosque project is expected to strengthen faith and unite the community.

END.

By Esther Gune.

In the busy trading centres of Adjumani District, cheap sachets and bottled alcohol are easy to find and even easier to afford. But behind this growing trade lies a deepening crisis one that is quietly tearing families apart, leaving women to carry the burden of survival and children to grow up in neglect.

Every morning, long before businesses fully open, some residents can already be seen searching for alcohol instead of engaging in productive work. What may appear as a daily habit is increasingly becoming a serious social, economic, and public health concern.

Local authorities say the situation is alarming.

“The increase of cheap alcohol in the community is very alarming. Early in the morning, people are already looking for alcohol instead of engaging in productive activities,” Eriku Patrick Keleture, the Town Clerk of Adjumani Town Council said.

“We are receiving many complaints related to cheap alcohol. After consuming it, some people end up causing violence and crime in the community, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, and theft,” Eriku added.

He warned that the impact is being felt across families and the wider community.

“Adjumani Town Council is made up of different categories of people, and as an urban setting, we cannot allow cheap alcohol to disorganize families, create criminal cases, and lead to child neglect as we are seeing. As urban authorities, we are committed to putting an end to the spread of cheap alcohol,” he emphasized.

Behind these statistics and warnings are real lives especially women struggling to hold families together.

For many women in Adjumani, survival now depends on their ability to endure neglect and provide for their children alone. In several households, men spend most of their income on alcohol, leaving little or nothing for basic needs such as food, school fees, and healthcare.

Asio Grace, a mother of four in one of the trading centres, says her husband’s drinking has changed everything.

“By the time he comes back home, he has spent everything on alcohol,” she says. “The children depend on me for everything.”

Community leaders say such stories are becoming common, with alcohol abuse increasingly linked to family breakdown and poverty.

According to Dipio Francis, the Probation Officer of Adjumani District, alcohol-related cases dominate the reports they receive.

“Domestic violence cases caused by alcohol consumption are referred to us every day, and it is the leading cause of violence and child neglect in families,” she said.

“Many of these cases involve men who spend most of their income on alcohol and fail to provide basic needs for their families, leaving women to struggle alone while children suffer.”

She warned that if the trend continues, more children will grow up in unstable environments, increasing the risk of long-term social problems.

Health experts are equally concerned about the rising impact of alcohol on the population. Lulu Henry Leku, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child Health, says alcohol remains one of the major public health challenges in Uganda.

“During the Risk Factor Behaviour Survey conducted in 2017, 17% of the population reported drinking alcohol, with 18.8% being male compared to 15.4% female. Alcohol use is also higher in urban areas than in rural areas,” he explained.

In Adjumani, the situation is worsening.

“Alcohol intake has increased to 26.8% in 2025, compared to 23.8% in 2023. The number of people consuming alcohol rose from 2,558 in 2023/2024 to 2,784 in 2024/2025,” he said.

He noted that the increase is more visible among men, partly because many interventions currently focus on women.

“The 26.8% we are seeing is higher than the 17% reported in 2017. This is largely driven by cheap bottled alcohol that people can easily afford, yet most of it is not regulated,” he emphasized.

The health consequences are already evident.

“Liver-related complications are among the top ten causes of morbidity in the district. Alcohol is also contributing to mental health problems and increasing cases of suicide in the Madi sub-region,” he added.

Despite the growing concern, cheap alcohol continues to dominate markets and trading centres, often with limited regulation. Vendors say they are meeting demand, but leaders argue that the social cost is too high.

Women and children remain the most affected—bearing the weight of neglect, poverty, and emotional distress. Many families are struggling silently, with little support.

As authorities promise to take action and communities begin to raise their voices, one reality remains clear: the cost of cheap alcohol in Adjumani is not measured by its price, but by the broken homes, lost opportunities, and uncertain futures it leaves behind.

End

By Onzima Allan

Stakeholders and pupils of Mother Theresa Preparatory School in Adjumani district have today joined the rest of the country in a charity run to mark the 52^nd birthday anniversary of the Chief of Defense Forces and First Son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The event held under the theme: “Run For Hope, Run For Charity” attracted participants from different walks of life.

Akuku AP Richard, the Patriot League of Uganda (PLU) Leader Adjumani district, said the event exhibited unity among people.

Toko Swaib, the Resident District Commissioner, described the event as significant, noting that it should used as reconciliation tool to resolve the long standing political rivalry in Adjumani district.

Ocen James Andrew, the CAO Adjumani District, said physical fitness is encouraged under government policy noting that regular exercises improves health and work performance.

Hon. Anyanzo John Ambayo, the Chief Mobiliser PLU Madi Sub Region, and the District Chairperson Elect Adjumani (2026 -2031), said the run was to portray patriotism and it’s essential for every wanaichi to be patriotic and committed to be supporting national unity and development.

Mr. Asiku James, an Educationist, said that in the spirit of patriotism, mother Theresa with decorum and respect has requested the office of the president for uplift.

The PLU run for hope and charity concluded with calls from leaders and stakeholders for citizens to embrace patriotism unity and collective responsibility.

END.

By Esther Gune.

Adjumani District has launched a €63,000 (approximately UGX 250 million) water and environmental protection initiative aimed at improving access to safe water, strengthening laboratory services, and promoting environmental conservation among both refugees and host communities.

The project, known as WaEPA (Actions for Water and Environmental Protection), is being implemented through a partnership led by the Municipality of Sinai in Italy, working alongside Anawim Africa, the University of Sassari, and Adjumani District Local Government.

The initiative focuses on improving public health and living conditions in line with global sustainable development goals on clean water, climate action, and environmental protection.

Speaking during the launch, Barbara Pusceddu, the Mayor of Sinai Municipality emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing global challenges affecting communities.

“It is important for all of us to work together for the wellbeing of the people of Uganda,” the mayor said before adding “I appreciate the local authorities for accepting this new project, which focuses on climate change and environmental protection. Waste management is a serious challenge not only here, but across the whole world, and it requires joint efforts to address it.”

A key component of the project is upgrading the water analysis laboratory in Adjumani to improve testing of water sources such as wells and springs. The upgrade will include the provision of modern equipment, consumables, and training of laboratory technicians to enhance efficiency and ensure safe water for communities.

Giyaya Charles, the Natural Resources Officer for Adjumani District, noted that previous interventions had already made a positive impact in the district.

“Our previous projects have greatly supported water quality monitoring and environmental conservation in the district,” he said. “This new project will help us strengthen and expand those efforts to benefit more people.”

In addition, the project will establish a psychopathological laboratory to monitor plant diseases and ensure that seedlings produced in nurseries are healthy. This is expected to support environmental restoration and sustainable forestry efforts in the district.

According to the project coordinator, Rev Father Charles Vura Obulejo, the initiative will also prioritize capacity building.

“We are going to train more people in sustainable management of natural resources, governance, domestic resource mobilisation, and planning,” he said.

The project will further promote environmental awareness through school and community programs, targeting young people with education on climate change, conservation, and sustainable development.

Local leaders say the initiative comes at a critical time when Adjumani continues to face challenges related to safe water access, environmental degradation, and waste management, particularly due to the growing population of refugees and host communities.

The WaEPA project aligns with Uganda’s national development priorities and international commitments on sustainable management of natural resources and improved service delivery, and is expected to significantly enhance the health and livelihoods of the people of Adjumani District.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Youths in Adjumani District are beginning to transform their lives through skills, training, and financial opportunities provided under the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative (URRI) project, a multi-partner program aimed at strengthening livelihoods among both refugees and host communities.

Noel Alabi, Program Manager of World Vision overseeing Adjumani and Lamwo districts, highlighted the organization’s role in driving sustainable change.

“As World Vision, we bring expertise and lead the implementation of the climate smart agriculture component together with the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. Those two components we deliver together with YSAT. So, we have so far delivered one year of this program,” Alabi said.

Alabi added: “After finalizing the first year, we see positive signs of transformation already starting to happen with the participants, especially in the areas of financial inclusion, sustainable climate smart agriculture where the farmers are starting to replicate the climate smart practices, but also in the areas of gender, especially joint planning and decision making at family and group level.”

For many young beneficiaries, the project has been life-changing.

Brenda Pasi, a participant from Ofua Sub County, shared her journey.

“Through the support I got from Royal Embassy. When I joined group through URRI, they gave us many trainings. This made me to set up my own garden where I plant vegetables like egg plants, tomatoes. I sold them and when I sold them, I use the money to pay my school fees and buying scholastic materials. And I even bought goat last year from the money I made from vegetable. I got 500,000 and this year I’m having 600.000 in my account. And the money that I got from vegetables, I’m able to buy an oven where I bake different kind of breads like queen cakes, kababs, and other type of breads,” Pasi said.

Another beneficiary, Maridio Oliver, emphasized the importance of financial access in improving livelihoods.

“I got a loan. And we want to thank the government of Denmark embassy who are supporting us and we want more support from them so that the young ones who cannot access money can also help themselves,” Maridio said.

However, leaders note that challenges remain, particularly in balancing support between refugees and host communities.

Abdul Ramadan, the Settlement Commandant in Adjumani District, explained.

“The issue of refugees is getting 35% the host communities are getting 65% but when you look at the population of the refugees and the host communities, we almost going past the number of the host communities as refugees. So, to me the intervention should be 50-50 so that we shall have no issues on ground the peaceful existence will be spread out,” Abdul said.

Abdul added: “Then issue of food reduction for the refugees. Has impacted greatly in the lives of the refugees. Good number of them, they are not getting food assistance. They struggle for their own food, their own livelihood. But sometimes they are limited with the resources. They cannot be able to get land, to hire land, no money for hiring the land. They want to do business; the market is not there. You know, it’s a lot of issues down there that we need to really help all our refugees. If they are empowered, they will be standing on their own and support themselves.”

Government representatives have also called for continued collaboration to close existing gaps.

Obumai Simon Peter, Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Adjumani, said: “If there are other opportunities, because the gaps have been identified and you are no longer now friends but brothers continue to support your brothers. It’s not that the government is doing nothing. We are doing what we can. But because of the open little policy which also has its challenges, more refugees are still coming. The NURI and the Uri project are addressing some of those gaps. We are receiving new arrivals. So, some of these things are to address people who have just come, the ones who missed the NURI and now they are benefiting from.”

Despite the challenges, the URRI project continues to offer hope, equipping young people in Adjumani with practical skills, financial knowledge, and opportunities to become self-reliant. As more youths embrace climate-smart agriculture and entrepreneurship, the district is witnessing the early signs of a more resilient and empowered generation.

END.

By; Anzoo Evaline.

Health service delivery in Adjumani District is slowly regaining ground following the recruitment of 154 staff by Medical Teams International (MTI) with funding support from UNOCHA, after a crippling funding gap forced the layoff of over 288 health workers earlier this year.

The staffing crisis, which unfolded at the beginning of January 2026, left health facilities severely understaffed, disrupting critical services, particularly in maternal health care.

According to Dr. Lulu Henry Leku, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal Health Care in Adjumani, the sudden loss of workers pushed the district into a near-emergency situation.

“When we woke up on the 1st of January that all the 288 staff were going home, we were heading into crisis and indeed had a challenge losing 288 staff just like that affects hand service delivery. And I love one that used to serve the second highest number of persons in the district had only three staff. One of them was an Askari and then two are the only technical officers. So, you can see that that was a big problem,” Lulu said.

The impact was immediate and far-reaching. Facilities that once handled high patient volumes were reduced to skeleton teams, forcing some to scale down operations while others shut down completely. Maternal and child health services were among the hardest hit, with fewer skilled health workers available to attend to deliveries and emergencies.

Despite the setback, district health leadership chose resilience over despair.

“We never gave up. We never went into lamentation mode. We ensured that we reorganized ourselves. And we waited. We were patient. We were knocking at doors. And today we are beginning to see that positive progress. So, I will say 154 is a progress in the right direction. 14 midwives from UNFPA. This is progress in the right direction,” Lulu added.

The newly recruited staff are expected to ease the burden across facilities, although officials admit the numbers are still insufficient to fully restore services to previous levels. Meanwhile, there is cautious optimism that more former health workers may return to service.

“The health workers who were working under these various partners have been called for validation of their papers by the Ministry of Health, and we hope many of them will be absorbed into the system. So, we’re still optimistic that we shall navigate and overcome some of the challenges,” Lulu said.

At facility level, the crisis was deeply felt.

Iceta Michael, facility in charge of Ayilo Health Centre III, described the overwhelming pressure faced by the few remaining staff.

“We serve a population of 25,963. Our daily OPD attendance is 120 to 150 daily. Our monthly delivery is 80 to 100. By then we had a 38 staff before. Their contract ended in then. They were laid out, but as per now, we are only eight who are on ground. From first to six, the facility was closed not until the LC5 had organized meeting with the IP, UNHCR, and OPM were part of that,” Iceta said.

The temporary closure of the facility highlighted the severity of the staffing gap and its direct consequences on community access to care.

“On 6th January, we received two midwives. After some days, we received uh a clinical officer and a nutritionist. But as per now, we are only eight who are on ground,” Iceta added.

For frontline health workers like Judith Akello, a midwife employed by MTI and posted at Ayilo Health Centre III, the additional support has made a noticeable difference, though challenges remain.

“I really wanted to thank the medical team international because at the beginning of the year there were only three steps. The medical team brought in more two midwives to support. Gradually, the increases the translator and clinical officer which as least made the workload to keep on reducing. So, we keep on requesting them to continue supporting us because we had a great number of populations like 25, 963,” Akello said.

District leaders say the funding shortfall exposed systemic vulnerabilities in the humanitarian health response, particularly in refugee-hosting districts like Adjumani.

Abina Polly Irene, the Resident District Officer from the Office of the Prime Minister, acknowledged the visible gaps and their consequences.

“There are lot of gaps. And these are very evident. When you look at the issue of health, drastically MTI had to reduce their staffing to be able to meet the funding gap that they were able to raise. And I want to say that we saw issues. We saw increase in death, mortalities in in the communities, drastically scaling of service delivery in the health facility. Some of them had to work half day, others completely were closed down,” Abina said.

However, she noted that renewed efforts by humanitarian agencies are beginning to stabilize the situation.

“And we’ve seen different agencies like UNOCHA, also coming on board to do something. They’ve announced the funding of about six months that is going to support different partners. So, we are looking at this all coming slowly, but of course it’s still not to the scale that we would wish to meet the demand in terms of the needs on ground,” Abina said.

Adjumani remains one of Uganda’s largest refugee-hosting districts, placing immense pressure on already limited health resources.

According to Gelila Tsega, Head of Sub Office at UNHCR Adjumani, the context is both complex and long-term.

“Adjumani is a very particular context. It’s a very large settlement, 19 settlements very large, 234,000, and it’s also a protracted context. Displacement in this area is not just temporary, it’s generational. Poverty that we collectively have to address. so, as UNHCR, we will continue to support with the little that we always get,” Tsega said.

While the recruitment of 154 staff marks a critical step toward recovery, stakeholders agree that sustained funding and long-term planning are essential to prevent future disruptions. For now, health workers and leaders in Adjumani continue to rebuild, piece by piece, hopeful that the fragile gains will hold and expand to meet the growing needs of both refugees and host communities.

END

By Dramadri Federick

In Bongova Village, on the outskirts of Arua, mornings do not begin with birdsong or the chatter of children heading to school. Instead, for many families, the day starts with a question that has quietly taken hold of their lives: what exactly are we breathing in?

For Enzama John, a 76-year-old resident of Ewaa Parish, that question has lingered for years. He speaks slowly, his voice carrying both fatigue and quiet fear. Just a few kilometers from his home stands the Meridian Tobacco Company factory an industrial giant that once symbolized opportunity for the region, but now represents something far more uncertain.

“We are now living in fear,” he says. “Waiting for what may happen to us. We have been told that this smell is dangerous to our health, and it leaves us feeling helpless about our future.”

That “smell,” as residents describe it, travels far. Community members estimate that emissions from the tobacco processing plant affect villages within a five-kilometer radius, settling into homes, schools, and everyday life. For over three years, they say, it has persisted unseen but deeply felt.

Amaniyo Gloria, a breastfeeding mother, does not speak in statistics. She speaks in worry. Her concern is not abstract it is immediate, centered on her child and the invisible risks that may come with every breath. In homes like hers, the crisis is measured not just in discomfort, but in uncertainty about what long-term exposure could mean for the next generation.

Gasi Rose, another resident of Bongova, describes a pattern that has become routine.

“The smell makes my throat itch. I don’t smoke, but I cough whenever I am at home,” she says. “This has been happening repeatedly for more than three years, especially when they are processing the tobacco.”

These testimonies are no longer isolated voices. They have coalesced into collective action.

Through the West Nile Compensation Advocacy Network, residents are now threatening legal proceedings against Meridian Tobacco Company Limited. On March 24, 2026, the network formally wrote to the company’s Managing Director, demanding the release of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment audit reports, along with proof of compliance with Uganda’s environmental and constitutional obligations. The company was given seven days to respond or face court action.

Richard Andama, the network’s Executive Director, frames the move as a necessary escalation after years of unanswered complaints. His colleague, Technical Director Victor Ajuma himself a resident exposed to the emissions insists the matter has reached a tipping point.

“This situation requires urgent intervention from all stakeholders,” Ajuma says, emphasizing that the issue is no longer just environmental, but a public health concern.

Across Uganda, tobacco-related exposure carries a heavy toll. National figures show that tobacco contributes to more than 13,000 deaths annually an average of 204 Ugandans every week. That number surpasses deaths from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. It is also a leading driver of Non-Communicable Diseases, which account for 25% of all deaths in the country.

The economic cost is equally stark. Each year, Uganda loses an estimated 126 million US dollarsto tobacco-related health impacts resources drained from households, health systems, and national development.

Arua District Chairperson, Alfred Okuonzi, has attributed the unchecked air pollution affecting communities in Ajia Sub-county to weak enforcement of environmental laws and policies by regulatory agencies and local government officials.

According to Okuonzi, although the district receives more than 100 million shillings in taxes from the company every month, compliance with environmental and social risk assessment requirements remains inadequate.

“Many times people blame but you see that factory pays 150 million shillings per month during peak hours as revenue, what is central government doing to help them not to affect the communities”. Okuonzi Noted

The LC5 Chairperson has, however, faulted technical officers and the National Environment Management Authority for failing to take action against Meridian Tobacco Company, whose alleged non-adherence to environmental standards continues to pose a public health threat.

“When we sent a team of officers last year we found that they (Meridian Tobacco Company) had no done environmental compliance Audit for four years and we tasked them to carryout. I think the biggest issue is some people are not doing their work like NEMA who is supposed to monitor compliance with the environmental laws requirement, I think we have a bigger problem in this country about entities failing people but they are seated to eat money and enjoy salaries freely.” The district chairman added

Air Injustice Verses Tax Profiteers.

For economists, this presents a troubling contradiction.

Tobacco has long been a pillar of West Nile’s economy. At its peak, the region produced between 12 and 13 million kilograms annually, supporting livelihoods across farming communities. Meridian Tobacco Company itself has played a central role in this ecosystem. Operating a facility valued between 20 and 25 million US dollars, the company contracted nearly 10,000 farmers as of 2017, generating approximately 7.5 million US dollars in annual earnings for associated growers.

Its factory complex in Ajia Sub-county worth 75 billion Ugandan shillings was established in 2013, with full-scale production beginning in 2014. For many, it represented industrial progress creating jobs, markets, and a pathway out of poverty.

But more than a decade later, that narrative is being challenged.

Economists like Julius Mukunda of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group CSBAG point to what they call “externalized costs” where the financial benefits of industry are offset by hidden burdens placed on communities. In Ajia, those costs may be unfolding in real time, as residents report health symptoms while the economic gains remain unevenly distributed.

“You cannot say, that you want to stop tobacco when you are licensing the companies, taxing them and again fail to protect the citizens.”

At the same time, the region itself is changing. Tobacco production is declining, driven by falling prices, environmental concerns, and a shift toward alternative crops such as horticulture and rice farming. What was once a dominant economic activity is slowly losing ground.

Yet the influence of the tobacco industry persists.

According to the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, Uganda ranks 10th out of 100 countries, with a score of 41 a drop from its 7th position in 2023. The report highlights growing industry influence on public health policy, weak transparency, and concerns about corporate engagement through social responsibility initiatives.

In Ajia, these national and global dynamics converge into a single, unresolved question: who is responsible for protecting communities?

Uganda’s legal framework appears clear. The National Environment Act of 2019, alongside the Environmental and Social Assessment Regulations of 2020 and the Factories Act (Cap 220), mandates strict environmental compliance and requires a safe distance between industrial operations and residential areas. These laws are designed to prevent exactly the kind of scenario now unfolding in Bongova Village.

But enforcement remains uncertain.

The situation has already escalated into demands for compliance documentation and the possibility of legal proceedings. At the center of this looming confrontation is not just Meridian Tobacco Company, but also the institutions tasked with oversight including the National Environment Management Authority.

Meanwhile, Arua District Chief Administrative Officer, Wamburu Soita Emmanuel, who said he was not aware of the pollution allegations at the factory, has revealed plans to dispatch a team of officers to assess the situation on the ground.

“I’m directing my team led by the Natural Resources Officer to go and monitor what is really happening at Meridian Tobacco to ensure that they fulfill their obligations in that respect.” Wamburu noted

Meridian Tobacco Company Responds

When contacted, the company, through its spokesperson Ronald Toorac, acknowledged the concerns and proposed relocation as the only viable solution to protect affected communities. However, that proposal has met resistance from some local leaders in Arua District, exposing deeper tensions around land, compensation, and accountability.

Beyond the legal arguments lies a more fundamental issue, there is no publicly available air quality measurements specific to the affected communities. No independent health studies assessing long-term exposure of the Ajia Community, no accessible compliance reports detailing emissions or mitigation efforts.

In an era defined by data-driven decision-making, this silence is striking.

It leaves residents to rely on lived experience on the smell in the air, the irritation in their throats, and the fear that something is wrong.

Uganda’s Worsening Air Quality.

Current data shows that the country’s PM2.5 levels average around 50 micrograms per cubic meter, five times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 10 micrograms. This not only poses serious health risks but also undermines Uganda’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly targets 3.9.1and 11.6.2, which aim to reduce deaths from air pollution and minimize environmental impact in cities.

Globally, the scale is even more alarming. The World Bank’s 2025 report, “Accelerating Access to Clean Air for a Livable Planet,” estimates that outdoor air pollution causes 5.7 million premature deaths each year, costing the global economy nearly 5% of GDP. It further reveals that 99% of the world’s population is exposed to unsafe air.

Ajia is not isolated from this reality, it is part of it. What is unfolding in this small corner of West Nile reflects a broader global challenge how to pursue economic growth without compromising human health. This question stretches beyond Uganda, beyond tobacco, and speaks to the very model of development shaping much of the modern world.

For the residents of Bongova Village, however, the issue is far from theoretical. It is present in the air they breathe each day, in the persistent coughs that refuse to go away, and in the uncertainty surrounding their children’s future. Ajia now stands at a crossroads, and the decisions made here could redefine not only the relationship between one company and one community, but also the wider standards of industrial accountability in Uganda.

END.