Uganda Joins Global Celebrations of the Kigali Amendment

KAMPALA – Uganda has joined the rest of the world in marking ten years since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This is an environmental milestone that has steadily grown into one of the most effective tools in the fight against global warming.

Adopted in October in Kigali, the Kigali Amendment extended the scope of the Montreal Protocol by adding hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the list of controlled substances. While HFCs were initially introduced as safer alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, science would later reveal an inconvenient truth that they are potent greenhouse gases, capable of significantly accelerating global warming.

Ten years on, what began as a technical adjustment to an already successful treaty has evolved into a powerful climate action instrument. By targeting the phasedown of HFCs, the amendment is not just protecting the ozone layer; it is actively cooling the planet.

Across continents, governments, environmental agencies, and industry players are using this anniversary to take stock of progress made, and to recommit to the journey ahead.

For Uganda, the story is one of steady, deliberate progress.

“The Kigali Amendment was ratified on 21st June, 2018,” said Isaac Mugabi, the National Montreal Protocol Focal Point Officer. “The country has since taken significant steps to align its environmental management framework with the obligations of the amendment.”

Those steps have not been merely ceremonial. Uganda moved to revise its regulatory framework, updating the National Environment (Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Products) Regulations, 2001, to reflect the new global commitments. The result was the enactment of the National Environment (Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Products) Regulations, 2020, now fully operational and actively enforced.

Behind the scenes, systems have also been strengthened. A Technical Committee on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Products was established, tasked with overseeing the allocation of quotas to importers of HFCs. This mechanism ensures that Uganda’s transition away from high-global-warming substances is both controlled and sustainable.

Early indications suggest that the country is on the right path, with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) continuing to play a central role in this effort, coordinating implementation, monitoring compliance, and engaging stakeholders across sectors. From refrigeration technicians to importers and policymakers, the shift is gradually taking root.

Yet beyond the policies, regulations, and committees lies a bigger picture: one that connects Uganda’s actions to a global mission.

The Kigali Amendment represents a rare success story in environmental governance, where science, policy, and international cooperation have aligned to deliver tangible results. Experts estimate that full implementation could prevent up to 0.4 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of the century.

For a world grappling with rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and climate-related disruptions, that is no small victory.

And so, as the world marks this 10-year milestone, the celebrations are not just about the past; they are a reminder of what is possible when nations act together and when commitments on paper are translated into action on the ground.

Uganda, for its part, appears determined to stay the course.

Uganda was the 9th Country in Africa and 39th country in the world to ratify the Kigali Amendment. Uganda was also the first country in the East African region to conclude review of the National Environment (Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and Products) Regulations.

In reaffirming its commitment to the Kigali Amendment, the country is not only safeguarding its environment but also contributing to a global effort to ensure that the Earth remains a safe and habitable home not just for today, but for generations yet to come.