Miss Tourism beauty queens from Teso, Buganda, Kabula and Kyadondo have decried what they have termed as irresponsible plastic waste littering in shanty towns, municipalities and cities in Uganda.  

Uganda joined the Clean Seas Campaign in 2021 to show its commitment to reducing the amount of litter and plastic waste entering lakes and rivers, but over 600 tonnes of plastics are generated per day, according to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) director Dr Barirega Akankwasah.

Miss Tourism Buganda's first runners up 2023/2024 Favor Nantongo said the central region is greatly affected by plastic waste in Uganda because of the high rate of urbanisation in Kampala, Masaka Mubende, Entebbe and Wakiso.

“Plastic wastes in rivers, drainage channels and lakes are alarming and killing aquatic life which is both dangerous to our health and animals which live near the water bodies,” Nantongo said.

"Town dwellers should take it upon themselves to stop the impending disaster which is threatening our environment and climate in the long run," she added.

Catherine Nambasa, Miss Tourism Kabula 2023 also asked the Government to ban all the factories making polythene bags if they are to address the problem of plastics in the country.

“Instead of us wasting time in advocating for ending the use of polythene bags, the Government should ban all local and foreign companies, which are making these bags at the expense of our environment,” she said.

Teso Miss Tourism queen Doreen Apoo said: “People in towns should stop the habit of littering everywhere without discipline to promote hygiene. They need to work hard and improve sanitation and hygiene of their homes”. 

Josephine Namaganda, the Miss Tourism queen Kyadondo, asked town councils and centres to start designing ways how to manage waste before they develop into big towns.

Uganda joined the rest of the world on Tuesday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala to commemorate World Environment Day 2023 with a theme: Stop Plastic Pollution Today.