Plastic trash causes environmental, health hazards in Uganda

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – Asaph Kikulukunyu and his family are tilling the land in Mpigi, a rural district in central Uganda, in preparation for sowing seeds ahead of the expected rainfall in March.

However, a large amount of plastic waste is obstructing their labor as they separate it from the soil first and prepare the field, which Kikulukunyu recently acquired with pension payments he received after retiring from public service.

"It's terrible. I find plastic materials everywhere I dig. There is one used plastic bottle and two used plastic bags in every square meter on this land," Kikulukunyu told Anadolu Agency.

“If things continue at this rate, we will have nowhere to grow crops in 10 years from now,” he said, with a mix of anxiety and a smile on his face.

According to research conducted by the World Climate School's Uganda chapter, more than 75% of used plastic bottles end up in landfills, lakes, and rivers, which is seriously damaging to the environment.

Plastic bottles have gradually replaced glass bottles because of their lower cost.

Surprisingly, modern society has gotten accustomed to them, but the manner in which they are disposed of in most parts of Uganda is causing an environmental disaster.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, plastic waste is becoming disastrous to urban and rural areas due to poor disposal practices. All store purchases are packaged in polythene bags, and without proper disposal, plastic garbage can be seen everywhere.

“During the rainy season, they are washed into water channels, where they block drainage. Single-use packaging for soda, water, and other drinks results in mountains of garbage heaping up in legal and illegal dumpsites,” said Brian Kizito, an environment officer in the capital Kampala.

“It is unfortunate that in our country, there is no law against the disposal of waste. When someone buys a soda or water in a plastic bottle, after drinking it, he simply throws it anywhere. Can you imagine most people who drink soda in taxis or private vehicles simply throw the used bottles out the windows?” he remarked.

Research carried out recently by the Kampala City Council Authority indicates that Kampala generates 180 tons of plastic waste daily, but only 40% to 50% of the city's plastic waste is collected.

- Rwizi River slowly drying up

The main river in Mbarara's southwestern section, River Rwizi, is choked with plastic bottles and other plastic waste, causing flooding in nearby towns.

"The River Rwizi is slowly disappearing as a result of plastic pollution. There are places of the river where you can't see any water, but all you can see are plastic bottles," said Pauline Namuddu, a trader whose workplace is close to the river.

Jacob Mukasa, a senior environment officer with the Ministry of Water and Environment, asserted that plastic waste spills dangerous chemicals into the environment since it decomposes slowly.

"It causes reproductive disorders and cancer in humans who come into contact with these chemicals," Mukasa noted.

He said poor disposal of plastic garbage is also harmful to wildlife, noting that at least 10 cows die each month in the eastern district of Bugiri after eating plastic garbage.

Many aquatic animals become physically entangled in plastic trash in Lake Victoria, the world's second-largest freshwater lake, which is partially located in Uganda, he said, adding that they either drown or slowly starve to death.

- National Environment Act 2019

Some organizations in the country are attempting to mitigate the harm caused by plastic products. One of them is the Uganda Plastic Manufacturers and Recyclers Association (UPMRA), which wants the government to enforce the National Environment Act 2019 in its entirety in order to conserve the environment through efficient plastic waste management and stop the damage.

"Despite the president's assent to the act, it appears that no efforts have been taken to put it into effect," UPMRA spokesman Moses Ategeka told Anadolu Agency.

"Corporate companies that litter plastic waste are supposed to pay a penalty of 10 million shillings ($2,850) under the new amendment,” he said, referring to the statute under which no one has been prosecuted so far.

The act also prohibits the use of single-use carrier bags with a thickness of lesser than 30 microns and requires makers of polythene bags and plastics to recycle plastic waste and label the polythene bags.

David Musenze, an official with the World Climate School's Uganda chapter, criticized the government for not doing enough.

"Our government is adept at passing good legislation but consistently fails to put them into action. They've prohibited the use of polythene bags twice, but they're still being used all around the country," he claimed.

Minister of State for Environment Beatrice Anywar has recently advised Ugandans to stop using plastic bags because they spoil the environment. She suggested that they should use paper bags instead.