Victoria Sugar Factory in Luweero District has once again come under attack from what company officials describe as “malicious and well-funded propaganda” orchestrated by rival sugar producers bent on frustrating its operations and discouraging potential investors purely for selfish reasons.
Recent publications by some unpatriotic and unserious blogger outlets alleged that the factory emits thick smoke and soot, endangering residents’ health and the environment. However, investigations by TheSpy Uganda reveal that these stories are part of a sustained smear campaign driven by competitors in the same industry, who reportedly bankroll certain bloggers and sections of the press to malign the fast-growing sugar firm.
According to credible sources, these competitors have been mobilizing and paying small groups of locals to appear before cameras and make unfounded allegations ranging from coughs to contaminated crops, claims that have never been backed by a single medical or laboratory report. It should be remembered that when similar allegations were first raised last year, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) dispatched a team of inspectors who, after thorough investigations, cleared Victoria Sugar Factory of any wrongdoing and confirmed that its operations met all environmental standards.
Despite NEMA’s official clearance, the smear campaign has persisted, raising serious questions about the motives behind the continuous attacks on an enterprise that has invested billions of shillings in modern production technology and community development. A senior source within the company told TheSpy Uganda that one of the media houses involved has allegedly been receiving a monthly retainer of about Shs1 million to publish negative stories against the factory. “This is economic sabotage in disguise,” the source lamented. “While the President is out there encouraging investors to set up industries and create jobs, some unprofessional and unethical bloggers are working overtime to destroy them.”
In an exclusive interview on Monday, Victoria Sugar Factory’s Human Resource Manager, Ms. Mbaiza, said the company has for years endured a coordinated campaign of falsehoods and distortions intended to tarnish its image. “We have provided hundreds of jobs to the people of Luweero, improved livelihoods through various corporate social responsibility programmes, and adhered to all environmental regulations,” she said. “We urge members of the media to be partners in development—not instruments of destruction.”
Mbaiza further appealed to regulatory bodies and security agencies to investigate the growing trend of economic sabotage disguised as journalism, warning that it could scare away investors and undermine national development goals. “Uganda’s liberalized economy thrives on healthy competition, not blackmail. The President’s effort to market Uganda as a safe investment destination will be in vain if we allow such unethical acts to continue unchecked,” she added.
Meanwhile, residents of Ndibulungi village, where the factory is located, continue to praise the company for its role in transforming the area through infrastructure development, employment, and social support.
As calls grow louder for responsible and patriotic journalism, industry analysts warn that weaponizing the media for commercial warfare not only damages companies but also dents Uganda’s image as an investment-friendly nation.