KCCA boss warns poor air quality 'becoming more serious'

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The executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Sharifah Buzeki, has called for a collective action plan to mitigate emissions in Kampala.

She said deteriorating air quality in the city poses a growing threat to public health and the city’s sustainability.

“With the growing population, the air quality challenge is becoming more serious, but we are taking steps to address it,” said the KCCA boss.

She attributed the problem to transport emissions, open-air burning of waste and industrial activities.

Buzeki made the remarks during a multi-sector policy dialogue on air quality management on Friday (April 30) at the Mayor’s Parlour at City Hall in Kampala.

The engagement was organised by KCCA in collaboration with Solutions for People, an organisation that works to empower individuals and communities to address pressing societal challenges and unlock human potential. 

KCCA is already working to tackle the air quality challenge.

“KCCA has put in place regulatory frameworks, including the Air Quality Management Ordinance and the Clean Air Action Plan (2025–2030), to guide long-term interventions,” said the executive director.

The action plan will have a community-led initiative, where KCCA will involve the communities to fight poor air quality.

The plan is also intended to strengthening air quality management by the use of community members.

Buzeki also said more than 100 air quality monitors have been installed across the city to support data-driven decision-making.

“KCCA has improved on the road network infrastructure, setting up traffic control lights to reduce on congestion and also clearing the non-motorized transport zones."

She added improvements in road infrastructure, including 22 signalised junctions, are helping to ease traffic congestion and by extension reduce vehicle emissions.

Non-motorised transport corridors, safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists as well as greening initiatives such as tree planting are being rolled out to improve the urban environment.

KCCA said it is also investing in waste management systems and promoting the four Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and refuse) to minimise pollution from solid waste.

Dr. Sarah Zalwango, the director of public health and environment at KCCA, emphasised the need for collective responsibility.

“We all have a role to play in improving air quality. This requires action from individuals, institutions and government," she said.

Officials from the energy ministry, works and transport ministry, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Makerere University, and Kyambogo University attended the meeting.

Data from KCCA indicates that Kampala’s average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration stands at 50.4 microgrammes per cubic metre, with the highest pollution levels recorded during early morning and evening hours due to heavy traffic.

KCCA said it is working closely with the works and transport ministry to reduce vehicle emissions, and with the energy ministry to promote cleaner cooking solutions.

Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha from AirQo — an air quality monitoring network — said the goal of air quality monitoring is to protect human life through timely and accurate data.

The air quality focal person at KCCA, Dr Alex Ndyabakira, said air pollution is among the leading environmental health risks in the city, contributing to about 20 per cent of deaths.

“The main sources of pollution include transport emissions, dusty roads, biomass burning for cooking, waste burning and industrial activities,” he said.

Stakeholders called for integration of green infrastructure in road construction, including tree planting and pedestrian walkways, as well as improved traffic management to further reduce emissions.