In a bid to combat environmental challenges posed by poor waste management in urban area, the Tufts University, in collaboration with USAID, Makerere University, Aliguma Foundation a local NGO, have launched a workshop that will see environmental defenders supported.
The workshop launched on Tuesday 15, October 2024 at Acholi quarters one of the slums in Nakawa division, Kampala city is named ‘”Support to Environment Defenders in informal sectors of Kampala”‘ .
Established at God Care community School in Acholi Quarters, is aimed at tackling the growing environmental and public health challenges posed by both plastic and organic waste in Kampala’s Informal settlements.
The initiative will empower communities like Acholi quarters and Kifumbira on waste management putting much emphasis on recycling and reusing waste.
Ritah Aliguma the founder of the Aliguma foundation said that “although they have started with Acholi quarters and Kifumbira slums, they hope to expand to other informal settlements within the Kampala metropolitan area”.
“As Aliguma foundation our vision is to protect the environment especially from the hazardous plastic waste, the workshop is just beginning but our emphasis is to teach people especially the youth how to reuse or recycle plastic waste”, stated Ritah Aliguma.
Aliguma added that the foundation hope to extend other environmental protection activities to other part of the city include cleaning up parks of Bbanda slums scheduled for December.
Joel Boutroue a program Cordinator for this project revealed that this program which is being financed by USAID and other partners has kicked from Nakawa Division and it will be spread all over Kampala district with in a few months with a view of providing positive results as far as environmental conservation is concerned.
“This is a starting point for the cleaning campaign happening in December.Women’s and youth groups have been trained in having lasting solutions for the environment. We are training leaders as well, not only environmental defenders but also the community representatives.”
Before launching the campaign, state minister for Kampala and metropolitan affairs, Kabuye Kyoofatogabye commended the Aliguma foundation and it’s partners for this initiative that has empowered residents of Kinawataka Acholi and Kifumbira in Nakawa Division, Kampala District to conserve the environment at the same time improving their livelihoods.
“Lets remind ourselves that the garbage and plastics you’re dumping in the drainage systems is wealth. You can use these waste products to make more money out of them through making Composite fertilizers, Bricketts and glasses as we have seen some people.” said Kyoofatogabye.
Kyoofatogabye emphasized that he came up to support this initiative because its key in safeguarding Kampala’s drainage systems.
“It’s our duty as people of Kampala, to ensure that there is responsible waste management and not leave it to only KCCA. So many people have come up with solutions and innovations aimed at conserving the environment but have been lacking the necessary support from Authorities.”
Kyofa further added that once supported very well, this program will provide employment to over 300,000 Ghetto people who will be engaged in bottle collection, recycling and other related activities.
The kickoff workshop will bring together stakeholders from central and local government authorities,
KCCA, private sector, local businesses, schools, and environment defenders, aiming to foster practical solutions for short- and medium- challenges, including upscaling local waste collection initiatives.
Since the collapse of Kiteezi landfill, Kampala dwellers have been calling for innovative waste management solutions to enable the country overcome hazardous non-composite waste.
In here marks, the USAID Uganda deputy director, Maryanne Ombija, expressed the readiness of the USA government to finance local community efforts and interventions aimed at enforcing responsible plastic waste disposal management in Kampala slums.
Kampala is home to 1.5 million residents with an annual growing rate of 5.1% with about 87% of residents living in informal settlements. A 2019 Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) report estimates 1,500 tons per day of waste are produced in the city with food and yard waste most generated but only about 40%-50% is collected and transported to the landfill.
