NEMA Rolls Out Domestic Solid Waste Management Initiative in Mukono Municipality

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has launched a new waste management initiative aimed at promoting sustainable urban development and strengthening climate resilience in Uganda.

The project, titled “Domestic Solid Waste Management Strategies for Sustainable Urban Growth and Climate Resilience in Uganda,” will be piloted in Upper Nabuti Village in Mukono Municipality.

Funded by the International Growth Centre (IGC) with support from the London School of Economics, the project seeks to improve the collection, segregation, and disposal of domestic waste while encouraging environmentally responsible practices at household and community levels.

According to Victor Nahabwe, Senior Manager for Environment Enforcement and Field Operations at NEMA, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Director, Akankwasah Barirega, the pilot will serve as a model for other urban areas grappling with the growing challenge of solid waste management.

Nahabwe said Mukono was selected because of its close proximity to Kampala, which results in large volumes of waste generated from the surrounding neighbourhoods. He added that Mukono Municipality has a number of licensed waste handlers, giving it an advantage over many other urban centres.

“Mukono Municipality has an already established licensed waste management facility. Currently, Uganda has very few of these facilities, and Mukono stands out as one of the best,” Nahabwe said.

He explained that the one-year project will train communities in Nabuti Village on proper domestic solid waste management. “This means the generated waste will be separated and sorted into different bins. We are also teaching them how the waste can be transported by different licensed waste handlers, depending on the type of waste, as we have biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. We want to train them that biodegradable waste can be used for composting and other opportunities. As NEMA, we believe waste is not waste, but a resource. We want to train community members to leverage waste to improve their livelihoods. Biodegradable waste can be used for composting, and non-biodegradable waste can be sold to improve their economic status,” he said.

Nahabwe further explained that licensed waste handlers work with other licensed companies to recycle metals, plastics, and other materials for income generation.

NEMA will deploy community scouts, known as Village Health Teams (VHTs), to coordinate activities and link partners to the communities. He added that the training will also focus on mindset change, encouraging residents to dispose of plastics and other waste in the appropriate bins.

“At the end of the project, we expect to see change in this community. Kiwanga will serve as a control village for comparison to assess results from Upper Nabuti. If the pilot achieves its objectives, we shall roll it out across Mukono Municipality and eventually to the entire country. Currently, waste in Uganda is treated as waste. We want to work with partners to adopt more sustainable waste management practices,” he said.

He emphasised that waste management cannot be achieved in isolation. Government alone cannot ensure proper waste management without the involvement of communities, the private sector, and academia to undertake research on best approaches.

Mukono Town Clerk, Mr Francis Byabagambi, welcomed the initiative, noting that the municipality faces challenges with both human and animal scavengers due to excessive waste on the streets.

“Whenever it rains, our drainage channels are clogged because people dump waste in them. This affects our physical planning as a municipality. We are very happy because this project will help us engage communities that generate the waste. Everybody will understand their responsibility when it comes to waste sorting and disposal,” he said.

He added that if this shared responsibility is well communicated, it will help cultivate a culture of responsible citizenship, recognising that government cannot work alone and that polluters also have a duty.

Byabagambi thanked NEMA for spearheading the project and expressed hope that the results would be impressive and inspire other municipalities across the country.

Ms Maria Alejandra Orjuela Pava, Country Economist at IGC Uganda, and Ms Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, Programme Officer at IGC Uganda who represented the Country Director, both expressed the organisation’s readiness to work with NEMA and Mukono Municipality to ensure proper waste management.

“Cities are expanding, economic activities are intensifying, and infrastructure continues to grow. With this urban growth come opportunities but also mounting pressure on land, drainage systems, transport networks, and waste services,” Ms Orjuela said.

She warned that when waste systems are under strain, the consequences are visible and can affect productivity, investment, and quality of life. Adding that they expect the project to have an impact on households in Nabuti.

Ms Nakyejwe noted that solid waste management under this project is not simply about waste collection but about building a system that supports urban growth.

“That is why we are delighted to support this project, which brings together urban development and climate resilience, two pillars that are fundamental for Uganda’s long-term growth and development trajectory,” she said.

In his message, NEMA Executive Director Barirega said municipal solid waste management remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Ugandan urban centres.

“Rapid urbanisation, population growth, changing consumption patterns, and limited infrastructure have resulted in increased volumes of waste. Open dumping, inadequate waste collection, and limited recycling infrastructure continue to degrade our environment. These challenges manifest in urban flooding, public health risks, and degradation of wetlands and other fragile ecosystems,” he noted.

However, he said that while the challenge is complex, the solution begins at the household level. Sorting waste at source is transformative and critical for municipalities and urban dwellers.

He called on communities to embrace responsible waste segregation, urged research institutions to generate data, and encouraged development partners to continue supporting initiatives to scale up the work.

“Only through coordinated action can we create resilient and climate-sustainable cities,” Barirega said.

He commended the International Growth Centre and the London School of Economics, as well as political leaders, for their financial and technical support, which has enabled the pilot project to commence.

Today’s training targeted politicians, Village Health Teams (VHTs), and other community leaders, who are expected to cascade the message to the communities they serve.

The launch was also attended by the Mayor of Mukono Municipality, Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo, alongside other local leaders and stakeholders.

Mukono leaders said the municipality already has two key strategies in place to address solid waste management, covering the period 2023 to 2033.

Mr George Masengere, Principal Environment Officer for Mukono Municipal Council, said the authority has developed both a Solid Waste Management Strategy and a Faecal Sludge Management Strategy for the ten-year period. He noted that the current NEMA initiative builds on and complements these existing frameworks.

Masengere thanked the NEMA team for selecting Mukono Municipality as the pilot area for the project and announced that each household would be invited to collect the bins once they are delivered.

“I want to pledge to NEMA that this turn-up is not only going to end here today, it will continue.”

Juliet Najjemba, a councillor in Mukono, added that the municipality also enacted a bylaw targeting residents of Mukono Central Division. The bylaw was introduced following infrastructural developments, particularly road construction in the area. The committee on works resolved that anyone found dumping waste during rainfall, an act that clogs drainage systems, would face criminal charges.

Although the bylaw has not been fully enforced, offenders are liable to pay a fine of Shs1 million.