environment 30 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
KCCA Unveils Bold Plan to Cut Kampala's Air Pollution in Half by 2030
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has launched a Clean Air Action Plan targeting a 50% reduction in air pollutants by 2030 through multi-stakeholder efforts, stricter regulations, and expanded monitoring. The initiative addresses major sources like transport emissions, waste burning, and industrial activities amid growing urban health risks. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/inside-kcca-s-plan-to-halve-kampala-air-pollution-by-2030-5442780
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has introduced an ambitious Clean Air Action Plan to slash air pollution by 50% in Uganda’s capital by 2030. Launched during an air quality dialogue, the strategy emphasizes collective action from government, businesses, civil society, and residents to tackle everyday pollution sources such as waste burning, dirty fuels, and inefficient transport.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjati Sharifah Buzeki highlighted the need for robust governance, including staff training, local ordinances, and tough enforcement on emissions. The authority is finalizing an Air Quality Management Ordinance to ensure regulatory compliance.
To boost transparency, KCCA plans to widen its air quality monitoring network, add new measurement metrics, and provide real-time public data via online platforms. Partnerships with Makerere University Lung Institute, ministries, and global allies will connect pollution control to health improvements. Electric buses are slated for select routes, with initial units arriving by late May.
Dr. Alex Ndyabakira, KCCA’s Medical Services Supervisor, warned that air pollution rivals cholera, floods, and accidents as a top urban threat. A recent study flagged it as a widespread issue, especially as Kampala expands.
Professor Engineer Bainomugisha from Makerere University’s AirQo identified key culprits: vehicle exhaust and road dust, biomass fuels like charcoal and firewood, open waste burning, and industries near homes. Kampala’s pollution rivals or exceeds that in Nairobi, Kigali, and other African cities, with levels fluctuating daily based on activity and weather.
KCCA currently operates 100 monitors across all divisions, focusing on high-risk spots like factories, traffic hotspots, and dense neighborhoods. Daily checks track progress amid challenges like poor roads and congestion.
“Improving air quality is a moral imperative for a healthy city,” Buzeki affirmed.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)