The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has announced the closure of a private livestock farm in Kololo town centre, following complaints from neighbors about the pungent odor from piles of animal waste and noise pollution in Kampala.

NEMA insists that the no-grazing farm, which started in 2019 in Kololo, just three kilometers from the Kampala town square, initially had 10 Friesian cows and was operating without approval from the relevant authorities.

“This act is contrary to the National Environment (Air Quality Standards) Regulations, 2024 and the National Physical Planning Standards and Guidelines, 2011. The farmer was guided by the authority and in February 2024, transferred six (6) cows to the farm in Iganga District,” NEMA said in a statement.

However, NEMA said, “the complaints did not stop”, leading to an inspection of the project site involving the Environment Protection Force (EPF).

“The inspection established that the farm had poor waste management on one site, which is contrary to the National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations 2020,” the Authority revealed.

NEMA also stated that there was “noise pollution from livestock (85 decibels -dB) which is above the permissible limit of 55 Db for a mixed residential area, contrary to national environmental regulations (standards and noise control), 2003”.

Further in the statement, the Authority said it had noted “air pollution evidenced by a pungent odor associated with ammonia and other methane emissions from manure piles.”

This, they said, is against the provisions stipulated in the National Environment (Air Quality Standards) Regulations, 2024.

“As such, the farm was immediately shut down and the farmer was required to strictly transfer the remaining four (4) cows to Iganga farm and adequately clean and manage all gross pollution caused by the livestock on the facility, in accordance with section. 78 of the National Environment Act Cap 181,” the statement continued.

NEMA’s move comes amid similar concerns from residents of the Kampala metropolis, who have accused the Authority of being slow to address related complaints.

According to government data, Uganda has more than 14.5 million cattle, most of which are on farms in remote parts of the country.