Gold in the Waste: Untapped Opportunities Ugandans Should Harness

By William Lubuulwa

Every morning in Uganda, markets open, households dispose of yesterday’s leftovers, and traders sweep plastic bottles, banana peels, and rotting vegetables into the streets. What follows is a familiar cycle – waste dumped in open spaces, water channels, and wetlands. But beneath this mess lies a hidden fortune. Uganda is quite literally throwing away gold.

Recent figures from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) reveal that Uganda generates more than 2.5 million tonnes of solid waste annually. The capital city, Kampala, contributes the largest share – over 700,000 tonnes per year, or roughly 2,000 tonnes every day. Of this, 60% is organic, consisting mainly of biodegradable material from homes, food markets, restaurants, and farms. Yet, only about 40% of the total waste generated in urban areas is collected and disposed of properly, leaving the rest to pollute the environment and endanger human and animal health.

But waste does not have to be a burden. On the contrary, it is an opportunity that, if fully embraced, could create thousands of jobs, reduce environmental degradation, and support Uganda’s transition to a green and circular economy.

Golden Waste

Organic waste is the most abundant type of solid waste in Uganda. Kampala’s major markets such as Nakasero, St. Balikuddembe, Kalerwe, and Nakawa produce heaps of banana peels, vegetable residues, and food scraps daily. This waste can be composted into organic manure, which is essential for revitalizing Uganda’s nutrient-depleted soils – and benefit agriculture immensely.

In places like Mpigi, Wakiso, and Mukono, smallholder farmers are increasingly using compost to grow vegetables, maize, and beans, and earn a living high above the poverty line. Barbara Gwaliwa, a small scale farmer in Ggala Village, Mpigi Town Council, produces compost from kitchen and poultry waste on her peri-urban farm, reducing her reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers. “With organic compost, my red and yellow peppers are more succulent, and the tomatoes last several weeks after harvest,” she says.

Moreover, biogas technology is gaining ground in some rural schools, prisons, and farming households. By digesting organic waste, especially animal dung and leftover food, institutions like St Kizito Secondary School in Mukono have cut costs on firewood while promoting clean cooking.

The Business in Plastics

Plastic waste is a major urban menace. Every rainy season, Kampala’s drainage channels choke with discarded polythene bags and water bottles, triggering floods in areas like Bwaise, Kalerwe, and Katwe. Yet, plastic recycling is a growing industry in Uganda, and it holds massive economic potential.

Already companies such as Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda are partnering with managers of plastics waste to collect and process used plastic bottles into reusable products. And they are making good money. Across the country, informal youth groups collect plastics and sell them at UGX 300 – 500 per kilogramme; while a recent study by GIZ Uganda estimates that over 1,200 tonnes of plastic are recycled every month, supporting more than 6,000 jobs directly and indirectly!

In Masaka, EcoPlastile, a company aiming to end the ugliness of waste and accelerate the world’s transition to a greener, circular economy, is producing plastic roofing tiles and pavement blocks using waste plastic and sand. The tiles are durable, fire-resistant, and cost-effective. Experts opine that each tile removes approximately 500 grammes of plastic waste from the environment.

The Unknown Treasure in E-Waste

Uganda imports thousands of electronic gadgets every year: Phones, computers, fridges, TVs – the list can go on endlessly. However, with no structured system for disposal, obsolete electronics are often dumped or burned, releasing toxic substances into the air, water and soil.

But e-waste contains valuable metals such as gold, copper, and lithium. A tonne of discarded mobile phones contains more gold than a tonne of gold ore. The Kampala Industrial Area based E-Waste Collection Centre, a joint initiative by NEMA and the National Enterprise Corporation, focuses on collecting, sorting, and dismantling e-waste for safe recycling. Since its inception in 2021, the centre has processed hundreds of tonnes of e-waste, with plans to expand operations to other cities in the country.

Policy and Public Awareness Gaps

Uganda has a solid legal framework. The National Environment Act, Cap. 181, and the National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations, 2020, provide for waste segregation, Extended Producer Responsibility, and safe disposal. However, enforcement remains weak. Many local governments lack the equipment, funding, or political will to manage waste effectively. Meanwhile, citizens continue to dump indiscriminately due to limited awareness and lack of alternatives.

A study by the Urban Action Lab at Makerere University found that only 19% of Kampala households separate their waste at source, even though 72% ofrespondents were aware of the environmental hazards of poor waste disposal. This low percentage highlights a major challenge in Kampala’s waste management system and suggests a need for continuous sensitization and community engagement.

What Uganda Must Do

To unlock the full potential of its waste sector, Uganda must invest in structured waste segregation at household and institutional levels. This will improve recycling and reduce waste going to landfills.

Supporting waste-based enterprises is key. Incentives, tax breaks, and better access to finance can drive innovation, create jobs, and support the circular economy.

Stronger partnerships with the private sector, NGOs, and donors are vital. These can provide expertise, funding, and technology to boost recycling infrastructure. Integrating informal waste collectors through training, protective gear, and formal recognition will improve safety and efficiency.

Lastly, Uganda must expand public education on the economic value of waste through schools, media, and community outreach to drive awareness and action.

NEMA Positives to Scale Up

Already, Uganda has some positive examples to build on. For instance, the ‘Yonja Uganda’ campaign. This corporate social responsibility campaign, spearheaded by NEMA, has taken waste management education to towns such as Masaka, Mbale and Tororo, working with roadside vendors, schools, and local authorities to curb littering and promote proper disposal practices.

If Uganda scales up such efforts, the waste sector could contribute billions of Shillings annually to the economy through compost, plastic recycling, e-waste recovery, and biogas production, according to a projection by the National Planning Authority.

Way Forward

Uganda is sitting on a goldmine of waste. Instead of burying it, burning it, or letting it flow into wetlands, we must mine it – wisely and sustainably. Waste is not a curse; it is an opportunity. If we recognize the value in what we throw away, we will not only clean our environment but also power our economy and secure our future. Let us act now. The gold in the waste awaits you and me to touch.

Mr. Lubuulwa is the Senior Public Relations Officer at NEMA.