Your lungs could be worse than the fumes you inhale

Nov 11, 2007

EVERY morning when Anne Ake steps out of her house located in Kibuli slums in Kampala, she can hardly see the sky; it is hidden by a gray haze, which environmentalists say is caused by air pollution.

By Gerald Tenywa

EVERY morning when Anne Ake steps out of her house located in Kibuli slums in Kampala, she can hardly see the sky; it is hidden by a gray haze, which environmentalists say is caused by air pollution.

Kibuli slums overlook factories which release thick dark smoke into the atmosphere everyday. “Everyday when I wake up, I get difficulty in breathing. It is no longer possible for us to have a sunny morning,” Ake says.

Ake is not alone. Many people living in the city are affected by pollution. “I could not believe it when the smoke from the factories left a dark coating of soot mixed with dew on my windows,’’ says Moses Katumba, a resident of Kibuli. “When we contacted an expert in public health, he said our lungs could be worse because we breathe in the smoke throughout the night.’’

Katumba says residents informed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), but it has not responded. “I do not understand why environmentalists are dragging over this issue. The factory is one of NEMA’s most immediate neighbours and the wind must be blowing the smoke into their faces,’’ he adds.

When The New Vision contacted Fetus Bagoora, the director of Environmental Monitoring and Compliance, he confirmed that many people had approached him with complaints on air pollution, but dealing with air pollution is still a challenge.

“It is not easy to deal with pollution from industries, but it is also not true that NEMA is not doing anything about it.’ We have been doing our homework and we are about to crack down the polluters,’’ he explains.

Bagoora says NEMA is making laws on air pollution that will help to restrict emissions from factories. “We have the draft regulations ready. We shall release them by the end of the year.’’

NEMA has purchased equipment for monitoring air pollution. These include gas monitors for indoor pollution, since complaints have come mainly from people living in industrial areas. NEMA has also purchased gas monitors for vehicles because cars also contribute to pollution.

“Whereas children are attracted to the smell of exhaust fumes from cars, we are risking our health,’’ says Bagoora.

Public health officials are not certain about the extent to which the fumes are affecting the environment, but respiratory infections are increasing.

“Cases of asthma and lung infections are increasing, but there is no data on respiratory infections caused by pollution,’’ says Dr. Friday Agaba, a principal medical officer in charge of environmental health in the health ministry. “We need to do a survey on air pollution because it makes respiratory complications worse.’’

As part of the measures to check air pollution, the Government recently increased taxes on used cars, but importation has not reduced. “This shows that tax has not been effective,’’ says Bagoora. “Maybe the Government should increase the tax on used cars as well as spare parts.’’ According to the licensing unit of the Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda has about half-a-million vehicles on the road. Another 1,600 new vehicles are licensed to operate every month, but this excludes government-owned vehicles. There is also a lot of congestion caused by bad drivers and lack of an appropriate public transport system.

According to Phillip Gwage, the Government negotiator on climate change, the emissions contribute to global warming. “We need to change to means such as buses that can take more people, rather than rely on small cars. It will help us save money, time and protect the environment,’’ he adds. Gwage says every extra minute spent in traffic jam means more money because a car consumes fuel and emits waste gases, which pollute the air.

Uganda has become a dumping ground. It is difficult to operate in Europe where environmental conditions are stringent, therefore, many industries have moved to developing countries, where they are given a red carpet welcome that comes with incentives, tax holidays and cheap labour.

“We are concerned about pollution complaints, but some industries disregard environmental institutions. They bypass the law and get in touch with people in higher political offices,’’ says Bagoora.

Dust from buildings that are being set up also contributes largely to pollution in the city. It mixes with car fumes and factories emissions, making the problem even worse.

At the same time, Kampala residents are cutting down the trees that would help to sink waste gases, in a bid to set up buildings. The trees act as air cleaners; they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Houses in Kololo, Nakasero and Bugolobi that were once fenced with trees have replaced the tree fences with concrete walls. “These walls block free movement of air and incase the air carries impurities, it spreads disease,’’ says Evelyn Lutalo, an environmentalist at NEMA. “The shopping malls are poorly ventilated and the occupants experience a lot of heat. Some people use fans in a bid to freshen the air,’’ says Lutalo. She adds that burning garbage, especially plastics, emits toxic gases that cause infertility.

At the end of the day, people like Ake have nowhere to go as they have been denied a decent living. “We know the laws are silent on protecting us. That is why pollution is unabated,’’ says Ake. “The only time we saw environment officials in Kibuli was when they were accusing us of encroaching on the swamp.’’

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