UPC asks government to fix air pollution, waste disposal

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party has raised concern over the increasing contamination of air and poor waste disposal in the Kampala and other urban centres.

 

Addressing journalists at the party's weekly press briefing at their offices in Kampala, the party's spokesperson, Michael Osinde, said that government should design strategic interventions intended to address the problem and protect innocent lives.

 

He stressed that air pollution remains a critical risk factor for non-communicable diseases causing heart-related diseases, lung cancer and other related diseases.

 

"I think that is why we are having more cancer cases among the adults and children which was not the case before. Why are these diseases on the rise?" he asked.

 

During a recent stakeholder's meeting with industrialists and factory owners on curbing pollution, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) director for public health, Dr Daniel Okello, revealed that about 31,000 people die due to polluted-related diseases following exposure to dust, car perfumes, open burning of waste and industrial gasses.

 

 "Air pollution and poor waste disposal are increasingly becoming big problems to Ugandans, and we need to find a solution to protect Ugandans from these emissions and water pollution," Osinde noted.

 

Government has been challenged to implement the law on banning the importation of old used cars and relocate all industries from the city to gazette industrial parks.

 

Osinde also noted that poor waste disposal is the main cause of floods in the city.

 

"Every time it rains, many city parts get flooded and at times this leads to loss of lives. This is because people litter anyhow, thus blocking water channels and forcing water to find its own way," he added.

 

Osinde stressed that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), needs to reclaim and restore all wetlands in the city which are meant to absorb water.

 

They also want NEMA to probe the various industries on how they release fumes and other chemicals.

 

Osinde called on the government to sensitise the public on the dangers of pollution and poor waste management.

 

"We cannot fully blame the government for poor waste disposal yet we should be responsible for how we dispose off our waste. The public should be educated on how to separate waste and how to benefit from it," he added.

 

UPC also called on government to engage the unemployed especially at the time when the country is preparing for the general presidential election, to protect them from being lured into wrong activities.

 

"It is dangerous to note that many youths are still redundant yet they need to be engaged in productive work to avoid being used for selfish interests," Osinde added.