The Chief Magistrate’s Court of Lira has issued criminal summons against medical practitioners for dumping medical waste along the road side near Speed ways petrol station Ngetta Road, Lira City.

The suspects have been identified as Ezekiel Ocul and Samuel Odongo, drug shop attendants recruited by Silvesto Bunga, a councillor at Alito Town Council, and owner of God is Able Drug Shop located at Alito Town Council, Kole District.

According to reports, Ezekiel Ocul and Samuel allegedly paid a boda rider 5,000 Shs, with instructions to go and dumped it away, and he subsequently carry the medical waste from Alito to Lira City and dumbed on the road side near Speed ways petrol station.

God is Able Drug Shop is operating using medical papers of one registered nurse identified as Judith Amuge.

According to criminal summons, court case number 578/2024, Directorate of Public Prosecution case number 1029/2024 and Lira City Council case number 017/2024, the two suspects, Ezekiel Ocul and Samuel Odongo, Drug Shop proprietor Silvesto Bunga, and Judith Amuge, the registered nurse whose medical papers are being used to operate the Drug Shop have been commanded by the Government of Uganda to appear in court on May 15, 2024 at 9:00AM to answer the charges of; Aggravated littering C/S 97(10) and (11) of the National Environment Act 2019, and another count of Conspiracy to commit an offence C/S 168 of the National Environment Act 2019.

Aggravated littering is an offense of intentionally or recklessly causing pollution or littering in a manner that causes harm to the environment or public health, whereas Conspiracy to commit an offence under Section 168 of the National Environment Act 2019 involves two or more individuals agreeing to engage in conduct that would constitute a violation of the Act. This could include activities such as illegal dumping of hazardous waste, destruction of protected habitats, or other actions that harm the environment.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit an offence under the National Environment Act 2019, the individuals involved could face penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or other sanctions as prescribed by the law.