By Humphrey Nabimanya.
Africa-Press – Uganda. For years, conversations around youth development have mostly revolved around two things: sexuality and employment. These topics dominate because they’re seen as critical to the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Sex education protects against risky behaviour, while job readiness is essential in tackling youth unemployment and related mental health issues.
However, the world has changed, and youth issues are now closely linked to environmental concerns.
The climate crisis is affecting every facet of their lives — from food security to public health — yet they have the power to change the narrative but are often overlooked.
Uganda is one of the youngest nations in the world, with over 75% of its population under the age of 30, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimates.
Imagine what this numerical strength could mean if channeled into environmental conservation. If even a fraction of our youth became actively involved in ending plastic waste, Uganda could see transformative results — both in cleaner communities and in meaningful employment.
Across Uganda, young people are already engaged in door-to-door plastic collection, hauling sacks of discarded bottles and wrappers to local recycling points. But these efforts remain small-scale, often informal, and poorly remunerated.
We need a deliberate strategy to scale this up. What if the government commercialized plastic collection, turning it into a formal green employment program? Imagine a nationwide “Cash for Plastics” initiative where youth are paid a standard rate per kilogram of collected plastic.
Globally, countries like Indonesia and India have successfully launched such programs. Uganda can do the same.
For example, if one youth can collect an average of 10 kilograms of plastic daily, and is paid between Shs1,100 and shs1,300 per kilogram per day — that is roughly Shs13,000 a day. Now multiply that by 7.3 million youth, and not only do you get 94.9 million tonnes of plastic removed from the environment each day. That’s a thousand times more than Kampala’s entire daily uncollected waste output, including plastics, organics, and other materials estimated at 45 percent, according to the National Environment Authority.
But more importantly, the Cash for Plastics initiative will also be creating real, sustainable income for young Ugandans — especially since many show little interest due to the low returns from plastic collection.
We must also invest in early environmental education. Many parents will admit their own children now remind them not to litter. That’s a sign of what school-based awareness can do.
Let’s take this further. What if environmental responsibility — including recycling and proper plastic disposal — became part of Uganda’s school curriculum right from kindergarten? This isn’t wishful thinking. Rwanda, for instance, has integrated environmental studies in primary education and banned single-use plastics nationally.
Uganda can emulate such models. Educating children early ensures that sustainable behaviour becomes second nature. This is how we build a culture — a lifestyle where protecting the environment is as instinctive as brushing one’s teeth.
Of course, education alone is not enough. We also need to create an enabling environment. That means ensuring there are adequate public bins, clearly marked for recyclables and non-recyclables. Without proper waste infrastructure, even the best efforts fall flat.
This requires coordination between local governments, private sector waste companies, and community leaders. The youth can be the bridge — serving as environmental ambassadors in schools, marketplaces, and urban centers.
Young people today are drawn to causes that define their values — things that are relatable, bold, and impactful. The climate crisis fits that bill. Plastic pollution in particular offers a tangible entry point for youth action because it is visible, solvable, and directly linked to their everyday lives.
We have an opportunity to redefine what youth empowerment means in Uganda. Not just jobs and health, but ownership of the very future they will inherit — a cleaner, greener, and plastic-free Uganda with our young people at the forefront.
The author is the Chief Executive Officer, Reach A Hand, Uganda
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