Hima Cement Plant to Shut Down

Uganda: Hima cement factory in Kasese district will close for a month after locals complained of air pollution.  The factory’s Human Resource Manager, John Rwabona confirmed the closure by phone yesterday.  "Yes it’s true our factory is emitting dust and we are going to close down on Sunday and then repair it for 4 weeks; there will be no more dust," he said. The factory is about 16 kilometres on the Kasese-Fort Portal road.

The district Director of Health services, Dr Peter Okui told The Monitor on March 3 that people living in Hima town council have complained of respiratory complications.  "It has been a long standing problem here," Okui said. He added: "Although there is no official report yet, the dust itself can cause a chest problem." Another health expert issued a cancer warning.

The Hima cement factory has been around since the 1970s without any outstanding environmental complaints. The current problem is blamed on a power surge that blew one of the main filters.