Transport Sector Dominates Uganda's Air Pollution, NEMA Reports

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has identified the transport sector as the leading contributor to air pollution in Uganda, responsible for an estimated 60% of the problem. This significant impact stems largely from emissions from vehicles and motorcycles, compounded by dust generated from unpaved roads.

NEMA’s Executive Director, Barirega Akankwasah, further clarified that industries contribute around 11% to the nation’s air pollution. The remaining pollution is attributed to household activities like cooking, the burning of waste in the open, and other biomass-related burning.

To better monitor air quality, NEMA has procured about 30 high-grade air quality monitors. These will be deployed nationwide to enhance the existing network of lower-cost monitoring devices. Additionally, a reference monitor is slated for installation in the Albertine region as part of the expanding national air quality monitoring network.

Akankwasah noted that discrepancies in air quality data reported by different institutions often arise from variations in the accuracy and type of monitoring equipment used. While NEMA’s own measurements do not support claims of Uganda having the world’s worst air quality, he acknowledged that air pollution remains a serious concern.

Uganda now benefits from a strengthened legal framework for air pollution control, including the National Environment Act and the National Environment (Air Quality Standards) Regulations, 2024. These regulations set standards for ambient air, industrial emissions, mobile sources, and open burning.

The primary challenge, according to Akankwasah, is no longer the lack of regulations but ensuring these laws lead to tangible improvements in the air quality that citizens breathe. NEMA is also directing industries to implement self-monitoring devices and is collaborating with AirQo to provide lower-cost monitoring options for industries that cannot afford advanced equipment.

Enforcement is being bolstered through inspections, environmental audits, and the establishment of an Environment Protection Force. Early data from Kampala suggests a decrease in PM2.5 levels compared to several years ago, though a comprehensive national picture requires a denser monitoring network.

Government initiatives to tackle transport-related emissions include vehicle emission testing, the adoption of Euro 4 emission standards, road paving, and the promotion of electric public transport, with electric buses and motorcycles currently undergoing pilot phases. NEMA aims for a PM2.5 concentration of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, a highly ambitious target.

“Clean air is not negotiable. Nobody can live without air,” Akankwasah stated, emphasizing the need for concerted action from government agencies, local authorities, industries, and communities to reduce pollution at its source.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/369567/nema-says-transport-sector-accounts-for-60-of-air-pollution