NEMA boss urges cities to embrace waste reforms to cut garbage

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The executive director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has called on cities and municipalities across Uganda to urgently adopt practical waste management reforms, saying the country can cut its garbage by more than half if decisive action is taken.

Responding to the Auditor General’s report that over 300 urban councils were choking on garbage, Dr Barirega Akankwasah noted that more than 60 percent of Uganda’s waste is organic and can be composted if properly sorted at source.

This, he said, would significantly ease pressure on already strained landfills, reduce environmental pollution, and create employment opportunities along the waste value chain.

“Uganda’s cities can cut garbage by more than half—starting now,” he said. “If we separate waste at source and compost organic material, we immediately reduce landfill pressure and unlock economic value.”

He outlined ten key interventions that city authorities must implement to transform waste management systems.

Among these is the enforcement of waste separation at the household level, which he described as the foundation of any effective waste system. He also emphasised the establishment of community composting sites, particularly in busy markets where organic waste is generated in large volumes.

The NEMA boss further called for the formalisation and support of waste pickers, noting that they play a critical but often overlooked role in recycling and waste recovery. By integrating them into structured systems, he said, cities can improve efficiency while also creating dignified livelihoods.

Other proposed measures include the introduction of a “pay-as-you-throw” system to discourage excessive waste generation, strict enforcement of the impending ban on single-use plastics, and the establishment of material recovery and recycling centres to enhance reuse and reduce dumping.

He also urged municipalities to incentivise recycling through deposit-refund systems, digitise waste collection to improve accountability and efficiency, and intensify public awareness campaigns on proper waste sorting and reuse practices.

“Waste is not just a problem—it is an opportunity. With the right systems in place, Uganda can turn garbage into jobs, income, and cleaner, healthier cities,” Akankwasah said.

The call comes at a time when many urban centres, including Kampala, are grappling with mounting waste management challenges that have contributed to environmental degradation, blocked drainage systems, and increased public health risks.

Audit findings raise concern

According to the latest audit report by the Auditor General, Edward Akol, more than 300 town councils across the country are struggling to manage garbage due to a severe shortage of collection equipment and the absence of designated dumping sites, raising fresh concerns about sanitation and public health in urban centres.

Akol said at least 320 town councils lack adequate garbage collection equipment, including garbage trucks, skip loaders and tractors, leaving local authorities unable to effectively collect and dispose of solid waste.

As a result, the audit findings indicate that the shortage of equipment has forced many councils to resort to unsafe waste disposal methods, with garbage being dumped along roadsides and in public spaces.

Government steps in

The NEMA advisory aligns with a recent directive issued by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, who ordered all chief administrative officers and town clerks to immediately clean up urban areas, restore trade order, and improve sanitation.

In a circular dated March 10, 2026, Kumumanya said the clean-up campaign is aimed at restoring order, improving public health, and creating a more conducive environment for businesses and residents.

He directed local leaders to take decisive action against disorderly trading and poor sanitation, which he said have disrupted movement, undermined formal businesses, and degraded the urban environment. The directive emphasises strict enforcement of the Trade Licensing Act, requiring traders to operate only in designated areas and possess valid licences.

As part of the measures, local authorities have been instructed to ensure regular cleaning of markets, removal of campaign posters that contribute to urban clutter, and improvement of infrastructure such as shopfronts, lighting, and waste disposal facilities.

Kumumanya also called for stronger law enforcement and sustained public education campaigns to promote compliance, alongside better organisation of public transport systems to reduce congestion.

With rapid urbanisation placing increasing pressure on infrastructure and services, both NEMA and the Ministry of Local Government are pushing for a coordinated approach to transform Uganda’s urban centres, shifting the narrative from waste management as a challenge to a driver of sustainable development and economic opportunity.