In Paris, Lukwago and other city leaders discuss ways to tackle NCDs

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The just-concluded Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Paris brought together city leaders from around the world, including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, to discuss and implement solutions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

With a strong emphasis on air quality, road safety, and climate change, the summit provided a platform for city leaders to share challenges and strategies in combating these urban health issues.

While speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the summit, Lukwago reaffirmed Kampala’s commitment to the initiative, emphasising the city’s active involvement since its inception.

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and his delegation pose for a photo. (Courtesy photo)

“We have a very strong bond and partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Vital Strategies, and the World Health Organization, who are bankrolling many of our projects,” he said.

Challenges of African cities

Kampala has particularly focused on improving road safety, enhancing air quality, and addressing the broader implications of climate change. 

No African city was among the recipients of the summit’s top accolades and according to Lukwago, this highlights the significant challenges faced by urban centres on the continent.

“It speaks volumes about our development agenda as African cities. There is a need for more investment in programmes and initiatives by sub-national governments, something that many African cities struggle with due to limited financial resources," he said.

Unlike cities in Latin America and Europe where mayors have the authority to initiate projects and access external funding directly, African cities often face bureaucratic hurdles.

Lukwago, who led a delegation of Kampala city leaders in Paria, said that for Kampala to receive funding for climate change or road safety initiatives, the process must go through multiple layers of government, including the Ministry of Kampala, the Cabinet, and Parliament, which he said slows down access to critical funding and interventions.

He added that while African cities, including Kampala, participate in global climate and urban health forums such as COP summits, they struggle to directly access climate finance.

“Under the Paris Agreement, sub-national governments are included, but the reality is that we hardly receive these funds."

'Significant progress'

Despite financial constraints, Kampala has made strides in road safety thanks to support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The city established a road safety unit, developed a five-year strategic plan, and improved data collection, including annual reports that track accident hotspots.

“Right now, I can tell you that in Kampala, we lose roughly 400 people annually to road crashes, unlike before when numbers were in the thousands. This information guides our interventions,” said Lukwago.

Kampala city has also adopted a safe systems approach, integrating pedestrian walkways and promoting non-motorized transport (NMT) to reduce reliance on motorized vehicles, which has contributed to both improved road safety and lower emissions.

“We want to make walking in Kampala safe, and we are making significant progress,” he added.

Air quality monitoring has also seen major developments, with the installation of 65 air quality monitoring systems citywide, having previously relied on data from universities or the US Embassy.

Lukwago said these efforts allow city authorities to identify pollution sources and take targeted action.

Funding cuts

A potential reduction in US global health funding could significantly impact Kampala’s health programmes, particularly HIV services.

“We have been receiving $5 million in support from the US, mainly for HIV treatment and ARVs,” Lukwago noted. 

The potential loss of this funding could affect approximately 200,000 people dependent on these services in Kampala city alone.

Sustainable urban health solutions

Lukwago’s participation in the Paris summit underscores the urgency for African cities to receive more autonomy and direct funding to combat health and environmental challenges.

With a growing urban population, the stakes are high. However, Kampala’s progress in road safety, air quality monitoring, and community-driven health initiatives presents a promising model for other African cities looking to improve urban health without solely relying on external donors.

“Cities champion national health reforms by setting examples that drive systemic change. Paris offers valuable lessons in active and electric mobility, green spaces, and air pollution control through zoning and digital solutions," said Dr Alex Ndyabakira, the head of air quality monitoring at KCCA.

“By prioritizing these, cities can significantly reduce non-communicable diseases and enhance public health for all,” he said.

The Paris summit celebrated the achievements of three cities for their innovative public health policies aimed at preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries.

They are Córdoba (Argentina), Fortaleza (Brazil) and Greater Manchester (UK).