Celebrating World Environment Day with a Stand Against Plastic Pollution

In commemoration of World Environment Day 2025, NatureUganda, in collaboration with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kabale University and Kabale Tourism Cluster, organized a public talk on June 24, 2025. The event, a flagship event ahead of the World Environment Day 2025 celebrations, was held at Kabale University to raise awareness, showcase innovative solutions, and foster collective action against plastic pollution in Uganda.

The public talk, themed “Understanding Plastic Pollution in Uganda: Analyzing Causes and Effects to Guide Sustainable Solutions,” set the stage for critical dialogue on addressing Uganda’s plastic crisis. It was followed by the launch of NatureUganda’s 6th branch, hosted at Kabale University, underscoring the organization’s commitment to expanding grassroots conservation efforts in the region. These events preceded the main World Environment Day celebrations, held on June 25, 2025, at Kigezi High School Primary Playground.

The public talk brought together experts, conservationists, and active citizens to discuss sustainable solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, Executive Director, NEMA, delivered a keynote address which provided a comprehensive overview of the state of plastic pollution in Uganda and globally. He highlighted the critical role of plastics in essential sectors like healthcare, food packaging, and construction among others while underscoring their devastating environmental and health impacts. He pointed out that Uganda generates approximately 600 tonnes of plastic waste daily, with only 40–50% collected, leading to clogged drains and urban flooding. Dr. Akankwasah called for immediate action, emphasizing the need to reduce single-use plastics, strengthen legislation, and adopt a circular economy to minimize waste and promote sustainability.

Dr. Akatwijuka Rogers, who represented the Vice Chancellor for Kabale University, referred to plastics as a “necessary evil,” stressing the importance of finding sustainable strategies to coexist with them. Prof. Agnes Ariho emphasized the need for active citizenship, calling for collaboration between the state and its citizens to tackle plastic pollution effectively. She urged the government to support plastic recycling innovations, noting, “Destroying our environment is destroying ourselves.”

Robert Kakuru, Executive Director of KICK Corruption Out of Uganda, highlighted the role of political corruption in stalling progress against plastic pollution. He stated, “We lost the battle against plastics in 2019 due to political corruption,” and called for a concerted effort to fight corruption as a fundamental step toward implementing environmental policies.

The Executive Director, Uganda Biodiversity Fund, encouraged participants to reflect on the challenges faced, celebrate the progress made, and commit to new actions. He acknowledged the high cost of conservation efforts, remarking that “Reversal is difficult as we try to correct our wrongs.”

Dr. Francis Ogwal advocated for a bottom-up approach to tackling plastic pollution, pointing out that communities bear the triple burden of paying for plastics, suffering their consequences, and bearing cleanup costs.

The session culminated in a powerful declaration led by Mr. Achilles Byaruhanga, Executive Director of NatureUganda, and event’s moderator: “No Single-Use Plastics in Uganda.” This call to action spurred attendees to champion sustainable solutions.

Presentations

• Beating Plastic Pollution in Uganda (PDF)