NEMA officers on Sunday arrested prominent businessman Magan Patel, the founder of MMP Group, over allegations of illegal wetland encroachment in Bugembe, Jinja City.
According to the National Environment Management Authority, Patel is accused of unlawfully filling part of the Bugembe wetland with soil, an act that violates Uganda’s environmental protection laws.
Patel heads MMP Group, a major Ugandan conglomerate with businesses in agriculture, oil processing, soap manufacturing and household consumer goods. One of its biggest firms, Nile Agro Industries, operates in Jinja and is among the country’s leading industrial players.
The arrest has quickly reignited debate around environmental compliance by big investors, especially as Uganda continues to lose wetlands at an alarming rate.
Environmental activists have long warned that wetland destruction threatens water sources, biodiversity and climate resilience, while also accusing authorities of selective enforcement when it comes to powerful individuals.
NEMA, however, says the move is part of a wider crackdown on illegal wetland activities and insists that no one is above the law.
.@nemaug enforcement officers arrest, Mr Magan Patel, founder of the MMP Group, a diversified conglomerate in Uganda, known for leading companies like Nile Agro Industries in Jinja City, focusing on agriculture, oil, soap, and household goods, over filling Bugembe wetland with… pic.twitter.com/Z7v3oeIdie
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) December 28, 2025
Investigations into the alleged Bugembe encroachment are still ongoing.
