The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), in collaboration with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Makerere University, launched Air Quality Awareness Week, scheduled from May 6th to 10th, 2024.
Dr. Akankwasa Barirega, NEMA’s Executive Director, addressed journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, emphasizing that Uganda will observe the air quality week under the theme: “Knowing your air to Protect Human Health and the Environment”.
He highlighted the objective of Air Quality Awareness Week as raising public consciousness about the significance of air quality for human health and the environment, along with advocating actions to enhance air quality.
Dr. Akankwasa underscored that air pollution, notably fine particulate matter and tropospheric ozone, and their precursors, pose the most significant environmental risk to human health, with almost everyone globally exposed to air pollution levels surpassing WHO guidelines.
In Uganda, compromised air quality results in a high disease burden, with approximately 31,600 people dying annually from air pollution-related illnesses, particularly in urban areas. Transport, domestic activities, and biomass burning were identified as major contributors to air pollution in Kampala, with industrial emissions and dust from unpaved roads also significant factors.
Dr. Akankwasa noted a concerning increase in air pollution levels in Kampala, with data showing a rise from an average of 39.5µg/m3 in 2019 to 341 µg/m3 in 2024, substantially exceeding the WHO’s recommended guideline of 5 µg/m3.
To address this pressing issue, the Ugandan government has implemented various measures. These include establishing National Standards and Regulations for Air Quality, recently gazetted for public awareness. Additionally, initiatives such as tree planting have contributed to an improvement in national forest cover, rising from 9.5 percent to 13.3 percent, equating to 1.9 million hectares of forest.
Industries will be mandated to adopt technologies such as scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, and fabric filters to reduce emissions, with automated air quality monitors required to transmit data to a central database. Non-compliant industries will face penalties, while certain outdated technologies will be phased out.
Waste management practices will be enhanced, emphasizing proper collection and disposal to mitigate open burning, a significant contributor to air pollution. Road tarmacking will reduce particulate matter emissions, while regulations will be imposed on vehicle engine technologies and age to address vehicular pollution.
Furthermore, promoting cleaner energy sources such as improved stoves, gas, and renewable energy, alongside ensuring fuel quality, will be prioritized to reduce household emissions.
Dr. Rebecca Nantanda, a Senior Research Fellow at Makerere University Lung Institute, highlighted the severe health risks posed by air pollution, especially to vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. She emphasized the importance of collective efforts in combating air pollution and advocated for increased research and awareness initiatives.
Eng. David Luyimbazi, Deputy Executive Director of KCCA, emphasized continuous research and development in renewable energies and cleaner production technologies. KCCA, in partnership with NEMA and Makerere University, has installed air quality indicators in the city and is developing a Clean Air Action Plan to address air pollution.
With support from the World Bank, KCCA plans to install 100 additional air quality indicators and discourage waste burning and dumping, major contributors to air pollution in the city.
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