Ugandans have been urged to take the lead in tackling the nation’s growing waste crisis, with government insisting that the success of its forthcoming National Waste Management Policy 2025 will depend as much on citizen action as on legislation.
Local Government Minister Raphael Magezi, speaking at a validation meeting for the draft policy in Kampala, said the time had come for households to integrate proper waste habits into daily life.
“While government and local authorities have their roles, lasting solutions to Uganda’s waste crisis rest with individual behavior,” Magezi stressed.
The minister outlined simple but impactful practices separating waste at home, avoiding littering, and embracing recycling as steps every citizen can take to ease pressure on the country’s strained waste systems.
The call to action comes in the wake of the Kiteezi landfill disaster, a tragedy that prompted Cabinet to demand swift reforms in waste handling nationwide.
In response, the Ministry of Local Government has spearheaded a national framework designed to promote sustainable disposal, boost recycling, and protect the environment.
Currently undergoing final review before being submitted to Cabinet, the proposed policy marks a shift toward shared responsibility in managing waste.
If approved, it is expected to spark a change not only in infrastructure and systems, but also in public attitudes toward waste.
