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How excessive noise can harm your health
Graphic/ photo: Mike Louboyera Musaasizi and Abubaker Lubowa
What you need to know:
- Background. Several places of entertainment are accused of emitting noise beyond the recommended levels.
- They are also seeking an order, restraining the accused parties and their servants from hosting music concerts, heavy metal music groups whose rehearsals use amplified guitars, organs, drums and human voices with excessive energetic yelling, clapping and foot stomping, late-night parties and raves in Kololo.
The rising cases of heart-related problems among humans can be partly blamed on the excessive noise emitted beyond the required levels of a given area, experts have said.
The health and environment experts also say high noise levels can cause hearing impairment and sleep disorders in human beings.
“For instance farmers staying near a church or bar that plays loud music, their birds can fail to lay eggs,” says Ms Jennifer Kutesakwe, a senior environment inspector at the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).
Other health problems associated with noise pollution, the experts say, include social unrest, high stress levels, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hypertension, heart failure and disrupted productivity.
Noise pollution is unwanted and or excessive sound that can have an effect on human health and the environment.
The National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations 2003 stipulate that no person shall, for an activity specified in Regulation 6, emit noise in excess of the permissible noise level unless permitted by a licence issued under these regulations.
Ms Kutesakwe explains that noise is measured using sound meters but the measurements are based on the set standards under the Noise Standards and Control Regulations.
“A lay man can have one or download the sound level from Google onto their mobile phones. We have different standards for different areas which we base on to determine sound levels,” says Ms Kutesakwe, adding that noise is supposed to be measured every time it is generated to ensure it does not exceed the permissible level.
Under the Noise Standards and Control Regulations, noise is measured in logarithmic units called decibels (dB). In general environment, noise should be 45dB day and night and 35dB for places which require minimum noise such as libraries, recreational areas, hospitals and institutions of higher learning, among others.
Noise standard
According to Ms Kutesakwe, the maximum noise standard for residential areas during day is 50dB and 35dB at night while for places mixed with commercial, entertainment and residential facilities it is 55dB (day) and 35dB (night).
For residential and small scale industrial area, Ms Kutesakwe says noise has to be at 60dB during day and 50 at night while for the industrial areas, it is 70dB (day) against 60dB at night.
“The biggest problem is that people set up facilities with no approvals from authorities. Then for those who have approvals are ignorant of the law in regard to emission of noise,” she says.
Ms Kutesakwe adds: “All those bars are not licensed to play music. They are doing it illegally. Bars are not disco halls because disco halls are constructed with structures to absorb noise.”
Under Section 17 of the Noise Standards and Control Regulations, an Environmental Inspector, the Executive Director or a member of a Local Council may seize, impound or confiscate any property, tool, machinery or other instrument which is likely to or has caused the emission of noise, if, in his or her reasonable estimation such confiscation would cause tranquility in the area.
Nema and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) are accused of failing to execute their mandate of ensuring compliance with the laws.
The regulatory authorities have been jointly sued with seven bars operating in Kampala’s upscale area of Kololo for allegedly emitting excess noise that disturbs the quiet peace of residents contrary to the environment law.
The accused bars include Atmosphere Restaurant and Lounge on Windsor Crescent, Big Mike’s Bar on John Babiha Road, Oly Foods Restaurant on Acacia Avenue, Casablance Pub Night Club and Restaurant, H2O Bar, Bubbles O’Leary’s as well as Wave Lounge.
The landlords who have sued are Munubhai, Toshak Patel, Ms Winnie Byanyima and Eleazar Mugyenyi Kasimbazi.
Through their lawyers Signum Advocates, the residents of Kololo have petitioned court, seeking a declaration that the defendants’ business operations violate their right to a clean and healthy environment by emitting noise beyond the minimum permissible levels.
They are also seeking an order, restraining the accused parties and their servants from hosting music concerts, heavy metal music groups whose rehearsals use amplified guitars, organs, drums and human voices with excessive energetic yelling, clapping and foot stomping, late-night parties and raves in Kololo.
They also want a court pronouncement that the acts of seven bars to host music concerts, playing loud music, late night parties and raves that emit noise beyond the maximum permissible levels amount to a breach of their constitutional duty to create and protect a clean and healthy environment.
High Court Judge Justice Henrietta Wolayo will today make a ruling on a preliminary objection raised by the accused parties in the case.
The bar operators are challenging the legality and jurisdiction of the High Court to handle the case.
City lawyer Luyimbazi Nalukoola describes noise as ‘dangerous’ saying it compromises people’s quiet possession of their property.
“People are suffering from allergy to sound, they faint and others collapse due to the effect of this excessive noise. If it is church or disco hall, let it have sound-proofing,” he says.
Mr Nalukoola is one of the lawyers in a similar case against Pastor Aloysius Bugingo’s church.
Pastor Bugingo of House of Prayer Ministries was recently sued on allegations of emitting noise beyond the acceptable levels during his prayer sessions.
He was sued by Mr Ali Serunjogi, a resident of Makerere Zone in Kawempe Division where the church is situated. The case is in the High Court.
It is alleged that while conducting prayers, Pastor Bugingo amplifies unbearable sound, which interferes with the quietness and peace of the neighbourhood.
Recent cases of noise pollution
Kololo suit. KCCA and Nema have been jointly sued with seven bars operating in Kampala’s upscale area of Kololo for allegedly emitting excess noise that disturbs the quiet peace of residents contrary to the environment law. The landlords who have sued are Munubhai, Toshak Patel, Ms Winnie Byanyima and Eleazar Mugyenyi Kasimbazi.
Suit against pastor. Pastor Bugingo of House of Prayer Ministries was sued on allegations of emitting noise beyond the acceptable levels during his prayer sessions. He was sued by Mr Ali Serunjogi, a resident of Makerere Zone in Kawempe Division where the church is situated. The case is in the High Court.
