Kampala worst air-polluted city in East Africa

NEMA issues new guidelines on motor vehicles and industries

In a bid to mitigate the increasing threat from Air pollution that has increased the disease burden with over 30,000 people succumbing to lung related illnesses annually, the National Environmental Management Authority is set to roll out new guidelines and regulations to curb the prevalence of air pollution.

The regulations are to target motor vehicles attributed to be the leading polluters, Industries and biomass waste management.

Kampala has been named the second most air-polluted city in Africa.

Air pollution has been discovered to be the leading cause of death globally with 6.7 million deaths behind Covid-19 with, which claimed seven million people, killing more people globally than malaria and HIV.

According to the World health Organisation, Kampala the capital of Uganda has been named the most air polluted city in East Africa and second in Africa posing a high risk to Urban dwellers in Kampala and increasing the disease burden.

The WHO recommends 5 micrograms per Cubi meter but Kampala Measure 41 micrograms per cubic meter a number that more than doubles the threat.

Among the leading polluters include Vehicles, biomass waste burning, Industrial waste and dust from unpaved roads.

"It’s here that the National Environmental Management Authority is set to roll out new guidelines to regulate air pollution, including a ban on specific car engines, regulation on factories and industries, regulations on biomass waste burning, and a reduction on automobile in the city," Dr Akankwasa Barirega, the NEMA executive director, said.

According to Dr Rebecca Nantanda, a paediatrician at Uganda Lung Institute, Kampala’s polluted air has increased the disease burden at the Lung Institute in Mulago with 31,000 deaths from lung related illnesses recorded annually. children, pregnant mothers and those with underlying lung diseases at most risk especially those living in Urban areas according to research by the institute, the public has been advised to consider a lung screening.

This year’s Air pollution Week runs under the theme, "Know your air" with NEMA and KCCA spearheading a campaign to create awareness on the gross effects of air pollution