Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has issued a renewed call for urgent and collective action to address worsening air pollution in Kampala, warning that deteriorating air quality poses a serious and growing threat to public health and the city’s long-term sustainability.
The appeal was made by Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki during a multi-sector policy dialogue on air quality management held on Thursday at the Mayor’s Parlor.
The meeting, organised in collaboration with Solutions for People, brought together a wide range of stakeholders to assess current challenges and strengthen coordinated responses.
Participants included officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Works and Transport, and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), alongside academics from Makerere University and Kyambogo University, as well as members of the media.
Addressing the dialogue, Buzeki noted the increasing severity of air pollution in tandem with the city’s growing population.
“With the growing population, the air quality challenge is becoming more serious, but we are taking deliberate steps to address it,” she said, identifying key drivers of pollution as open burning of waste, traffic emissions, and the widespread use of biomass fuels for cooking.
Data presented at the meeting showed that Kampala’s average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration is 50.4 micrograms per cubic metre, with the highest pollution levels recorded during early morning and evening hours—periods closely associated with heavy traffic congestion.
According to Dr. Alex Ndyabakira, the District Medical Officer for Makindye Division, air pollution is among the leading environmental health risks in the city, contributing to approximately 20% of deaths.
“The main sources of pollution include transport emissions, dusty roads, biomass burning for cooking, waste burning and industrial activities,” he said.
In response, KCCA is implementing a series of interventions aimed at improving air quality through both mitigation and monitoring. More than 100 air quality monitors are being installed across the city to enable real-time, data-driven decision-making.
Efforts to reduce vehicle emissions are also underway through improvements in road infrastructure. The city now has 22 functional signalised junctions, which are helping to ease traffic congestion and lower emission levels.
Additionally, KCCA has expanded non-motorised transport corridors to create safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, promoting cleaner mobility options. Urban greening initiatives, including tree planting, are being rolled out to enhance environmental quality and resilience.
KCCA is also strengthening its waste management systems, encouraging residents and institutions to adopt the “four Rs”—reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse—as a strategy to minimise pollution from solid waste.
Officials emphasised that addressing air pollution will require not only infrastructure and policy interventions but also behavioural change at the individual and community levels.
KCCA Acting Director Public Health and Environment, Dr. Sarah Zalwango, stressed the importance of shared responsibility.
“We all have a role to play in improving air quality. This requires action from individuals, institutions and government,” she said.
To guide long-term action, KCCA has developed and implemented regulatory frameworks, including the Air Quality Management Ordinance and the Clean Air Action Plan (2025–2030).
These instruments are designed to provide a structured approach to pollution control and environmental protection.
The authority is also working closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport to reduce vehicle emissions, and with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to promote cleaner cooking solutions as alternatives to biomass fuels.
Experts at the dialogue highlighted the critical role of data in managing air pollution.
Professor Engineer Bainomugisha from AirQo emphasised that air quality monitoring is essential for protecting human life.
“The goal of air quality monitoring is to protect human life through timely and accurate data,” he said.
Stakeholders at the meeting called for the integration of green infrastructure into road construction projects, including the incorporation of tree planting and pedestrian walkways. Improved traffic management systems were also identified as key to reducing emissions and improving overall air quality.
The dialogue concluded with a strong call for sustained collaboration, innovation, and public engagement as KCCA and its partners intensify efforts to deliver cleaner, healthier air for Kampala’s residents.
With rising pollution levels and increasing health risks, city authorities signaled that only a coordinated, multi-sector approach—grounded in data, policy, and community action—will effectively address the challenge.