President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has implored all citizens, manufacturers and stakeholders to capitalize on the available natural resources to produce alternative packaging material to mitigate the rampant plastic pollution that the country is currently witnessing.
The Presidents massage was contained in a speech read for him by the Minister of State in Charge of Industry Hon David Bahati who represented him as Uganda observed the international world Environment day held at Kigezi High school play ground in Kabale District.
National commemorations for World Environment Day, which usually happen on June 5th, were postponed to allow for other equally important national commitments and were held under the national theme: “United Against Plastic Pollution.”
World Environment Day, established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly, is the UN’s principal platform for encouraging global awareness and action to protect the environment.
It is led globally by the United Nations Environment Programme and in Uganda, National Environment Management Authority is the lead agency mandated to coordinate its national celebrations.
In Uganda, the issue of plastic pollution is particularly concerning with yhe country generating about 600 metric tonnes of plastic waste daily, with Kampala City alone accounting for approximately 180 tonnes and Only about 30% is collected and according to the NEMA only 9% of plastic waste has been recycled, while 79% ends up in landfills or the natural environment.
The President noted that its everyone’s responsibility to work towards removal of plastics in our environment and the objectives of this year’s commemoration included raising public awareness on the dangers of plastic pollution, inspiring multi-stakeholder action across sectors and promoting partnerships between government, private sector, civil society and communities.
However, as Uganda observes the International World Environment Day, members of the public have demanded that government takes a bold decision to ban factories or production lines that produce single use plastics.
