KAMPALA: The Police at Kibiri have carried out an operation on bars that play loud music in Busabala, and arrested seven people from two bars.
The raid comes after a public outcry and the directive by the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the territorial Police to work hand in hand with Environment Police to curb noise pollution.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson said the suspects are currently detained at Katwe Police station on allegations of noise pollution.
Owoyesigyire further noted that before their arrest, the police and community had several times made complaints and issued warnings about the noise coming out of their establishment.
“The Police would like to inform members of the public to always be mindful of their neighbors and only use the required decibels in a residential area,” he added, noting that Police have also been informed through Community liaison officers to at all times move around communities and hold community engagement meetings on noise pollution.
Under the National Environment (Noise Standards And Control) Regulations, 2003, Control and Mitigation of Noise, it is the duty of the owner of machinery or the owner or occupier of a facility or premises, to use the best practicable means to ensure that the emission of noise from that machinery, facility or premises docs does not exceed the permissible noise levels.
The owner of machinery, or the owner or occupier of a facility who contravenes this regulation- commits an offence.
Where an Environmental Inspector has reasonable cause to believe that any person is emitting or is likely to emit noise in any area in excess of the maximum permissible noise levels or to cause or likely to cause annoyance, the Environmental Inspector may serve an improvement notice on that person in the form prescribed in the Third Schedule, ordering all or any of the following –
(a) the stopping of the noise or prevention or discontinuance of any annoyance, or prohibiting or restricting its occurrence or reoccurrence;
(b) compliance with the permissible noise levels;
(c) the reduction of [he level of noise emanating from the premises to a level as may be
specified in the notice:
(d) requiring the carrying out of an environmental audit;
(e) compelling a local council to take measures to prevent, discontinue or stop the
emission of the noise;
(f) the prevention of any subsequent increase in the level of noise emanating from the
premises or area:
(g) issue such directions intended to contribute to the reduction of emission of excessive
noise from or within the vicinity of a specified area;
(h) the execution of such works, and the taking of such steps, as may be specified in the
notice; or
(i) carrying out of any other order as may be issued.
The National Environment (Noise Standards And Control) Regulations note that not withstanding the other provisions of these Regulations, where it appears to the
Environmental Inspector that the level of noise emanating from any premises or area is not acceptable or is causing a public nuisance, the inspector may issue an improvement notice, for the benefit of the public.
A person on whom an improvement notice is served under this regulation who contravenes or fails to carry out any requirements of the improvement notice commits an offence.
