The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), in collaboration with the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution Alliance (GAHP), convened the first multi-sectoral Technical Working Group to initiate the development of Uganda’s Health and Pollution Action Plan (HPAP).

Uganda progressed in pollution challenges from diverse sources including vehicle emissions, industrial activities, domestic and municipal waste, medical and mining byproducts, and construction debris. The HPAP aims to tackle these issues head-on, focusing on:

• Air pollution
• Water contamination
• Pesticide exposure
• General waste management

The goal is to reduce harmful environmental exposures and safeguard public health.

Dr. Emmanuel Tebandake, GAHP’s representative in Uganda, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, noting that air pollution alone shortens life expectancy by an average of 2.5 years and contributes to over 2.5 million deaths globally each year.

This milestone effort falls under the Environmental Pollution Programme in Uganda (EPP-UG) and is being supported by the UK’s international development programme through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).