Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Communications Commission, Ministry of ICT, NEMA and the Kampala Capital City Authority( KCCA) have launched a pilot project that among other seeks to create an efficient system for collecting, handling and managing ICT e-waste within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The pilot project that runs for six months until March 2026 will be implemented in the three districts of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso.
The Ministry of ICT Permanent Secretary, Dr.Aminah Zawedde said whereas government has for long recognized ICT as a vital enabler of socio-economic transformation which has witnessed a remarkable uptake across government and the private sector, supported by deliberate government actions, this progress has come with a challenge.
“As the use of electrical and electronic equipment continues to grow, driven by emerging technologies and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more devices eventually reach their end of life. This creates electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste often contains hazardous substances such as cadmium, mercury, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Improper disposal poses serious risks to human health and the environment. Because e-waste is non-biodegradable, it can contaminate soil, water, and air, impacting our communities for generations,” Dr.Zawedde said.
“Yet when handled properly, e-waste management offers immense benefits, including reduced environmental pollution, protection of human health, creation of green jobs and advancement of the circular economy as envisaged by Uganda Vision 2040.”
The PS said it is appalling that there is limited awareness about the dangers of e-waste among Ugandans.
“Most of it(e-waste) is still discarded in landfills alongside general waste, often handled by informal actors without proper safeguards. Therefore, efforts such as this pilot project to raise awareness about this menace are commendable.”
The Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo said the GobalE-Waste Monitor 2024 paints a sobering picture, which is a cause for worry.
He noted that just 0.018 kg per person, Africa has the lowest documented e-waste collection and recycling rate.
“In Uganda, we generate an estimated 41 million kilograms of e-waste annually, about 0.9 kg per person, yet only 0.2 million kilograms is formally collected and recycled.The UCC 2020 study on End-of-Life Management of ICT Devices found that 85% of ICT devices become e-waste within four years. The rest reach end-of-life within six years, depending on their repairability and durability,” Thembo said.
“These figures paint a clear but gloomy picture: Uganda is generating more e-waste than it is collecting or safely disposing of. This has serious implications, not only for our environment and economy but also for human health and safety.”
He said the pilot project will help the project that ICT growth aligns with our national goals for environmental protection, public health, and responsible technology use.
“This initiative is designed to promote the safe, formal, and environmentally sound management of end-of-life ICT equipment in Uganda. The goal is to establish a nationally replicable framework for e-waste collection that is aligned with Uganda’s e-waste policy and circular economy objectives whereby discarded devices are not simply thrown away, but recovered, repaired, or recycled,” the UCC ED said.
The project
According to Rebecca Mukite,the Head of Communications and Infrastructure services at UCC, the project will after the pilot, be rolled out throughout the country, first targeting cities and towns.
She noted that the project will be implemented among others by two companies including VAS Consults and Towa Uchafu Nusu.
“The project aims to look at sustainability that as we encourage Ugandans to take ICT equipment and use them in their lifestyles, we need to look at responsible consumption and disposal. That entire ecosystem starts with collection,” Mukite said.
“We believe, as responsible consumers of ICT equipment, we need to look at the end of that process. A lot of people and entities have devices which are no longer in use but keep onto them due to their perceived value. We need to create awareness among these people that they can safely dispose of this equipment.”
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