By Our Reporter
As Uganda pushes forward with President Yoweri Museveni’s industrialization agenda, a quiet battle is unfolding in the country’s manufacturing sector — one that exposes the dark underbelly of commercial rivalry and digital propaganda.
At the centre of this storm is Victoria Sugar Factory, a multi-billion-shilling investment in Luweero District, now facing a barrage of online allegations accusing it of polluting the environment and endangering nearby residents.
But an investigation reveals that the uproar may be less about pollution — and more about economic sabotage.
In recent months, a handful of obscure online platforms and self-proclaimed “environmental activists” have circulated claims that Victoria Sugar releases toxic smoke, causing respiratory illnesses and damaging crops in nearby villages.
However, environmental regulators tell a different story. Officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) confirm that the factory was inspected and cleared of similar allegations last year after a comprehensive environmental audit.
“The factory’s operations were found compliant with national standards,” said a NEMA officer familiar with the case. “No evidence was found linking the factory to the alleged health complaints.”
Despite that official clearance, the accusations have persisted — raising questions about who is funding the relentless campaign.
Multiple industry insiders allege that some rival sugar companies are sponsoring coordinated smear campaigns to undermine Victoria Sugar’s growth and market share.
“These are not random bloggers,” said one source within Luweero’s business community. “There is money changing hands. Some individuals are being paid to post false stories and stage-manage residents for the cameras.”
Evidence seen by this reporter suggests that certain bloggers receive monthly payments to publish unverified content targeting the factory — part of a broader effort to discredit emerging competitors.
“This kind of economic sabotage is dangerous,” said another source. “It discourages investment, costs people jobs, and tarnishes Uganda’s image as a safe place for business.”
Far from the headlines, Victoria Sugar’s impact in Luweero is visible and transformative. The factory has created hundreds of jobs, built access roads, and supported community welfare projects in health, education, and water supply.
Residents of Ndibulungi village, where the plant operates, dismiss the pollution claims as politically and commercially motivated.
“People who say we are sick because of factory smoke are lying,” said a shopkeeper near the plant. “We have jobs, better roads, and our children go to school because of this company.”
Local leaders also credit the factory for stabilizing sugarcane prices and supporting smallholder farmers.
Victoria Sugar’s Human Resource Manager, Ms. Mbaiza, says the company has endured a sustained campaign of misinformation aimed at tarnishing its reputation.
“We have complied with every environmental requirement, and our doors remain open to regulators,” she said. “This isn’t journalism — it’s blackmail disguised as activism.”
She urged authorities to investigate the growing trend of economic sabotage in Uganda’s manufacturing sector, warning that unchecked smear campaigns could undo national efforts to attract and protect investors.
“The President has championed Uganda as an investment destination,” she added. “But that message is undermined if unethical individuals are allowed to weaponize falsehoods against compliant investors.”
The battle facing Victoria Sugar is part of a larger pattern emerging across Uganda’s industrial landscape — where social media is increasingly used as a tool for commercial warfare.
Manufacturers in steel, cement, and beverages have reported similar cases of orchestrated online attacks aimed at discrediting rivals and manipulating public opinion.
Experts warn that this new wave of industrial blackmail threatens to erode investor confidence if not addressed through regulation and stronger enforcement.
“Fake environmental activism is becoming the latest front in business rivalry,” said an economic analyst. “It’s time for government to treat such acts as a national economic risk.”
As Uganda markets itself to global investors, the Victoria Sugar saga raises broader questions: Can local industry thrive amid unchecked propaganda? And will the state act to protect legitimate investors from targeted smear campaigns?
For now, Victoria Sugar continues production — quietly, lawfully, and under pressure — while the truth battles to rise above the smoke.
But beyond Luweero, this controversy stands as a test for Uganda’s broader promise: Can a nation truly industrialize if success itself becomes a target?
