Govt, civil society launch mass campaign against lead pollution

By Agnes Kyotalengerire

In the bid to protect the public from dangers associated with high lead pollution in the country,  a mass campaign has been launched.

The campaign aims at raising awareness about the dangers of lead, according to NEMA's senior manager for environmental compliance Leila Akello.

“We want to raise awareness and inform the public that lead is a silent killer and that the effects are gradual,” Akello says.

Moreen Twikiriza\, the country director at YADNET/GAHP, says the agency will spearhead the campaign while co-ordinating different civil society organisations, government agencies, NEMA and the health ministry.

“We are looking forward to creating this public awareness so that people to know the devastating impact of lead accumulation and exposure. This will enable to save lives,” Twikiriza says.

The revelations were made during a multi-stakeholder meeting on lead pollution awareness campaign in Uganda held at Hotel Africana in Kampala city.

The campaign is being spearheaded by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), together with the Uganda Lead Pollution Technical Working Group with support from the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP).

Lead (Pb) is classified as one of the heavy metals, which is highly toxic and can easily accumulate in the body causing organ damage for example to the brain, heart, renal system and reproductive system, with children and women being more vulnerable.

For example, if a pregnant mother has lead in her body, there is potential of passing it on to the unborn child. In addition, a nursing mother can pass on Lead to her baby during breastfeeding. Exposure of pregnant women to high levels of lead can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.

During the campaign, the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) will partner with manufacturers, especially industries to ensure appropriate technology transfer to eliminate potential exposures to lead, Percy Arishaba, a research scientist at UIRI, said.

Dr Innocent Ocaye, who heads the division of chemical safety, radiation and pollution prevention at NEMA, confirmed the presence of lead in the communities.

Water ministry assistant commissioner Maureen Anino said the ministry has conducted studies that have revealed that there are some sources of lead pollution.

Anino cited plumbing materials among the on-point sources of lead pollution which are the old plumbing materials. While the off-point sources are from the different sources of contamination to water bodies.

Lead pollution in Uganda

The preliminary assessment report on rapid market screening (RMS) in Uganda shows that 73% of metallic cookware sampled contained lead concentrations exceeding 100 parts per million (ppm).

The samples were primarily of aluminium, although this category also included some items made from brass, copper and iron alloys.

The same study revealed that some cosmetics contain up to 2% lead and herbal preparation or traditional medicine such as emumbwa had Lead poisoning levels of 100%. The clay used to make emumbwa is picked from wetlands that are already contaminated with deadly heavy metals.

The study was conducted in three districts of Kampala, Lira and Mbarara, specifically in Owino market, Lira and Mbarara central markets.

Findings presented in a preliminary lead assessment report, prepared by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) in Collaboration with NEMA, with support from Pure Earth, suggest widespread lead pollution in Uganda.

Dr Innocent Ocaye (C), who heads the Division of Chemical Safety Radiation and Pollution Prevention at National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) addresses journalists during the meeting. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

The assessment report was prepared under the lead exposure mitigation project and provides an overview of studies conducted on lead pollution in Uganda.

A recent study by Pure Earth showed that 16% of the 32 paint samples from Uganda intended for large surfaces exhibited lead levels exceeding the reference level of 90 ppm.

Another study showed that 67% of the 30 solvent-based paints for home use contained lead concentrations above 90 ppm. These findings indicate that paint is still a major exposure route, especially for children.

Acaye said NEMA will target some value chains for batteries, paints and cosmetics.
“Identifying the sources of lead pollution in the country is critical because you cannot solve a problem that you do not know. In regard, the aspect of research is critical so as to know the challenge at hand,” he said.

Lead poisoning burden

Lead exposure remains a significant global health risk. As of 2024, it is estimated that lead poisoning affects one in three children worldwide.

The 2019 World Health Organisation report indicated that more than one million deaths globally were attributed to lead exposure. The annual global death toll due to lead exposure represents only a small fraction of the health impacts of lead poisoning.

The campaign which is supported by Geneva state through Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), is a six-month campaign (January to June 2025) that is geared towards creating awareness and sensitisation on the impact of lead pollution on people's lives and the need for increased investment by duty bearers and decision makers to avert the challenge of lead pollution. 

The campaign will mainly be implemented in Kampala district due to the challenges faced by communities and city dwellers that are always in contact with lead pollution through landfills and poor waste disposal, Used Lead battery informal recycling, food and cookware, solid waste and paints. 

The messages will be developed, translated into local languages and disseminated through community radios, newspapers, local television channels and social media.

A number of schools will be targeted with the message of empowering pupils on proper waste disposal through essays and competitions.