Plastic Pollution in Uganda: Can We Recycle Ourselves Out of this Quagmire?

By William Lubuulwa

Uganda finds itself grappling with a mounting plastic pollution crisis that threatens human health, biodiversity, and the economy. From the clogged drainage systems of Kampala to the choking wetlands of Jinja and the littered shores of Lake Victoria, plastic waste has morphed into a national environmental emergency.

The question on every environmentalist’s lips seems to be whether Uganda needs to adopt a radical rethink of production, consumption and regulation of plastics.

Recycling – State of Affairs

According to experts, only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled globally. Uganda fares even worse, with recycling rates hovering around 5 percent, while Europe leads the recycling race at approximately 15 percent – which is still poor. Imagine your Primary Two daughter bringing you an end of year report card with 15 percent in any of the subjects, and she brags about topping her class. Do you consider her a success or not in that particular exam? Do you advise her to repeat the class or you pat her on the back because this is UPE? Such, is the world situation, with the greatest performer standing at a miserly 15 percent! This sobering reality places Uganda among the countries most affected by plastic waste accumulation, with limited infrastructure to manage the crisis sustainably.

According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda generates over 600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, yet less than 50 percent of it is collected. The majority ends up in landfills, drainage systems, wetlands, water bodies, or is openly burned by some of us, releasing harmful toxins into air, water and soil. The notorious kaveera – below 30 microns – although banned under Uganda’s laws at some point in our history, continues to be produced and used illegally across markets and shops.

Fighting Plastic, Varied Ways

Speaking, June 24, at a Public Dialogue in Kabale Municipality ahead of World Environment Day 2025, held under the theme “United Against Plastic Pollution,” NEMA Executive Director Dr. Barirega Akankwasah posed a powerful question to the audience: “Can Uganda recycle itself out of the plastic challenge?” Without allowing the audience to shape his course of assertion, he gave an immediate and emphatic: “No!” Dr. Akankwasah stressed that recycling, though important, is not sufficient to address the root causes of plastic pollution. “The greatest challenge is single-use plastic,” he emphasized, urging the country to: “… go back to glass bottles.”

At the same event, Mr. Kenneth Tumusiime, the Country Director at Plawaste Consult Ltd, provided a big shift in perspective: “Plastic waste is a resource in the wrong place.”

His comment reframes plastic not merely as a pollutant, but as a potential economic asset I once talked about on this forum. He said plastic is a great resource if only it is captured, sorted, and repurposed correctly. Through Plawaste Consult Ltd and similar enterprises, plastics are being turned into construction materials, fencing poles, furniture, and household items. But such innovations are yet to scale nationally, largely due to lack of investment, weak enforcement, and limited public awareness.

While efforts at plastic recycling are emerging in cities such as Kampala and Mbarara – with innovative companies such as Yo-Waste, and Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda partnering in recycling programmes – the capacity remains dwarfed by the scale of the crisis. These projects are mostly urban-centric, leaving rural districts increasingly vulnerable to plastic accumulation.

More Danger Coming?

A 2022 United Nations Environment Programme report warns that global plastic production is set to triple by 2060 if current trends persist. Uganda, as a net importer of plastic-packaged goods, stands particularly exposed. Local and multinational companies continue to flood markets with sachets, bottles, straws, and wrapping materials, often without assuming responsibility for the waste they generate. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – a legal mechanism mandating producers to take back and manage their plastic waste – is yet to be meaningfully enforced, despite its inclusion in Uganda’s regulatory framework.

The socio-economic consequences of plastic pollution are severe. Experts estimate that Kampala Capital City Authority spends roughly UGX 10 billion annually to unblock drainage systems, most of which are clogged by plastics. In the agricultural sector, plastic ingestion by livestock and soil contamination with microplastics are silently eroding productivity. Fishing communities around Lake Victoria are reporting increased plastic entanglement in nets and dwindling fish stocks, jeopardising food security, incomes and human health.

Role of Citizens

Importantly, citizens can play a major role in addressing plastic pollution. We must refuse unnecessary plastic packaging, especially single-use plastics; reuse plastic items like containers and bottles instead of discarding them; and limit the disposal of plastic bags by choosing eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth or paper bags. These everyday actions, when improved to scale, can create a powerful ripple effect in shifting societal behaviour. Conscious consumption is not merely a lifestyle choice – it is a patriotic and environmental responsibility.

So, can Uganda recycle its way out? Dr. Akankwasah’s firm “No” reminds us that the answer lies not in reacting to plastic waste, but in preventing it. We must constantly remember that recycling is necessary but insufficient. A sustainable solution must go beyond recycling to include:

• Strict policy enforcement: Fully implement the plastic ban and operationalise EPR schemes to shift the burden to producers.
• Promotion of alternatives: Support the manufacture and use of biodegradable and reusable packaging materials.
• Public education: Raise awareness on responsible consumption and waste separation at the source.
• Investment in infrastructure: Build and decentralise plastic waste collection, sorting, and recycling facilities.
• Regional and global partnerships: Cooperate with East African neighbours and international bodies to tackle cross-border pollution.

Need for Circular Economy

Above all, Uganda must shift from a linear economy of take-make-dispose to a circular economy that prioritises reduction, reuse, and redesign. This transition calls for bold leadership, innovation, and public-private partnerships.

The upcoming Global Plastics Treaty negotiations offer an opportunity for Uganda to push for fairer and stronger global commitments, especially from major plastic producers. But back home, action must start with us: our laws, our communities, and our responsible choices.

Turn Off the Tap

Recycling may play a vital role, but we cannot recycle our way out of a plastic flood without first turning off the tap.

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