Man Jailed 7years for Forging NEMA Environmental Certificates

The Makindye Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court has handed a 7 year-jail sentence to Martin Owomugisha, over forgery and fraudulent use of environmental approval certificates.

The convict was sentenced on Tuesday August 11, 2026, after Her Worship, Gladys Kamasanyu, found him guilty of forging NEMA Certificates of Approval, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretences.

His jail sentence followed an intelligence-led operation conducted on March 23rd by NEMA’s Environment Protection Force and Environment Protection Police Unit in South Western Uganda, Mbarara.

The operation led to Owomugisha’s arrest over forged environmental approval certificates linked to fuel station projects in Bikurungu, Rukungiri District, and Mahyoro, Kitagwenda District.

Prosecution informed court that Owomugisha forged two certificates purportedly issued by NEMA to Kisu Energy Petroleum-SMC Ltd.

He later uttered the forged documents and obtained Shs8 million from Ismail Mugisha by falsely pretending that he would secure NEMA environmental approval certificates for the company.

Consequently, court sentenced Owomugisha to seven years’ imprisonment for forging the two certificates and seven years for uttering the false documents.

He was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences, with both sentences to run concurrently.

The Head Corporate Communications at NEMA, Naomi Karekaho, noted that the conviction sends a strong message that forging or fraudulently using environmental approval documents is a serious criminal offence.

“Environmental approvals are important safeguards for ensuring that proposed projects undergo appropriate environmental and social assessment before implementation” Naomi explained.

Karekaho further cautioned developers, investors and the public against individuals claiming they can privately procure, sell or issue NEMA environmental and social approvals.