Health authorities in Masaka Municipality have closed four drinking water and Juice processing plants that have been operating in people's homes. Four proprietors including local politicians in Kimanya B village of Kyabakuza division have been arrested for circulating the unsafe drinking water and Juice.
Henry Ddungu the Masaka Municipality Health Inspector says the water and juice were being processed using dangerous flavors and dirty water from Nabajjuzi swamp.
According to Ddungu the juice was being produced from a mixture of food color, chili source and sugar. Some of the water and juice that were being packed by the factories include Mila flavored water, Biko juice, Vanilla flavored water, the pineapple flavored Kasoft lucky juice and sayuni drinking water.
Ddungu says the water and juice packers lacked quality control and operational licenses. James Gidudu, the Officer in charge Masaka Central Police station says the water and juice packers were operating illegally in addition to circulating dangerous substance which is a threat to people's lives.
Gidudu identifies those in detention as Godfrey Kakungulu a hardware dealer in Masaka town, Madinah Namatovu, Sofia Nabatanzi the Kimanya Village secretary for health and her husband Salongo Kasuumba Sabastian. According to Gidudu the suspects are to be charged under the Public health and the food and drug Acts.
Meanwhile, Sofia Namatovu who has been employing seven youths says she has been in the business for five months and has made over 30 million shillings. Namatovu says she has been selling the water to people on Lambu and Bukakata landing sites. Police also says a Dyna truck destined for Namilembe landing site in Kyanamukaka Sub County loaded with similar water has been impounded.
