President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans, manufacturers, and key stakeholders to harness the country’s natural resources to produce alternative, eco-friendly packaging materials as a way of tackling the growing plastic pollution crisis.
Represented by the State Minister for Trade, David Bahati Kwesiga, during the World Environment Day celebrations held in Kabale District on Wednesday, President Museveni expressed deep concern over the volume of plastic waste being generated in Uganda, stressing its adverse impact on the environment.
This year’s celebration was held under the global theme “United Against Plastics,” highlighting the urgency for collective action to combat plastic pollution, particularly from plastic bags and bottles.
President Museveni revealed that one metric tonne of polythene can produce approximately 450,000 plastic shopping bags. He added that Uganda generates an estimated 7,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, equivalent to about 3 billion plastic bags, placing immense pressure on ecosystems.
He urged stakeholders to revive traditional, environmentally friendly practices that were common before the rise of plastic use. The president also encouraged citizens to protect rivers and wetlands and to abandon subsistence farming in favor of more sustainable and economically productive practices.
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Environmental expert Achilles Byaruhanga echoed the president’s concerns, calling for urgent measures to reduce single-use plastics. He warned that failure to act could result in irreversible environmental damage.
Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations to tackle the crisis.
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Kabale District Woman MP, Hon. Catherine Atwakiire Ndamira, urged communities to take personal responsibility in protecting the environment.
During the event, the National State of the Environment Report 2024 was officially launched, along with the National Environment Research Agenda 2024/25–2028/29, which will guide environmental research and policymaking over the next five years.
