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Ugandan investor Magan Patel, the founder of the MMP Group, is under investigation after authorities accused his company of destroying a protected wetland in eastern Uganda. Patel, 68, was detained over the weekend and later released as inquiries continue, according to officials familiar with the case.
Environmental regulators say the alleged offense carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison or a fine of about UGX 600 million ($165,800) if a court finds him guilty. Patel has not publicly commented, and it was not immediately clear whether he has been formally charged.
Arrest signals zero immunity in Wetland case
The arrest followed an operation in the Masese II area of Jinja City by officers from the National Environment Management Authority, or NEMA, working with police. Officials said they intercepted seven trucks and two tractors that were dumping murram into a gazetted wetland.
Investigators say the dumping blocked water channels and covered parts of the marsh, an ecosystem that supports fishing, flood control and farming in the area. A person close to the probe said the case was meant to send a clear signal that wealth or influence would not shield anyone from environmental laws.
Fish farmers lose livelihoods overnight
Residents say the damage has had immediate effects. Several small-scale fish farmers told local officials that ponds funded through the government’s Parish Development Model were filled with soil, killing fish and wiping out savings.
Julius Kayiira, a fish farmer in the area, said he lost more than 1,000 fish in a single day. “This was how I fed my family,” he said. “Watching it disappear was painful.” Local leaders said they are compiling claims from affected households as the investigation continues.
Patel held as NEMA tightens Wetlands
Patel has long been a top industrialist in Jinja and Buikwe districts, with interests that include edible oils and manufacturing through companies such as Nile Agro Industries. On Sunday, however, he and four associates were processed at a police station as part of the inquiry, officials said.
NEMA has stepped up enforcement as Uganda reports a gradual recovery in wetland coverage, which officials put at 13.9 percent in 2025. The agency says it is moving to protect thousands of mapped wetland areas, warning that unchecked development threatens both livelihoods and the environment. Authorities said further updates would depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
