Ban Open Burning of Rubbish in Kampala

Air Quality in Kampala

Every where you walk in Kampala you see smoke up in the air. There is open burning of rubbish everywhere. This smoke is a health hazard and adversely affects all people but individuals with with respiratory problems and allergies suffer immediate effects. Rubbish burning increases during the dry season. A World Health Organization report states that burning rubbish and use of firewood were found to be the leading cause of air pollution in Kampala. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iqafl_JQOE.

Combined with other pollutants like old vehicle fumes, dust and industrial pollution, rubbish smoke has negatively affected the air quality in the city. A study conducted in 2015 on air quality in Kampala and Jinja city councils proved that air quality in both cities was way below the recommended WHO levels and one of the major contributors is the open burning of rubbish https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515709/

A recent article in Monitor News paper called Quality of Kampala air a death trap. http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Quality-Kampala-air-deathtrap/688342-4310794-11eynt/index.html 'Kampala City tops the list for cities with the most polluted air in East, Central and Southern Africa.'

Exposure to air hazards is dangerous especially for people with health sensitivities. While other forms of pollution may take long to address, I believe that with proper legislation, open burning of rubbish in the city is something that can be addressed much quicker. #BanRubbishBurning