The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has launched a national electronic waste management campaign aimed at encouraging Ugandans to safely dispose of old and unwanted electronic equipment.
The ministry says electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste, is becoming an increasing environmental and health concern as more Ugandans acquire and replace electronic devices.
The campaign will focus on items such as old computers, mobile phones, televisions, laptops, landline telephones, cables, radios and other electronic equipment that are no longer in use.
State Minister for ICT Joyce Ssebuggwawo urged members of the public to take the campaign seriously, saying proper management of electronic waste benefits both people and the environment.
“This is good for all of us,” Ssebuggwawo said, calling on Ugandans to use the designated facilities instead of throwing old electronic equipment in ordinary rubbish bins or open spaces.
During the event, Ssebuggwawo unveiled e-waste collection bins manufactured by private sector players.
The bins are expected to be placed at selected locations, including public spaces, to make it easier for people to deposit old electronic equipment for proper handling.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Aminah Zawedde, said the ministry has designated the last Friday of every month as a day for sensitising the public about proper e-waste management.
Zawedde said the campaign will not only target the general public but will also extend to government ministries, departments and agencies.
She said government institutions have accumulated large amounts of obsolete electronic equipment, but some officials are reluctant to dispose of the items because of concerns about accountability.
“This campaign will go all the way to government ministries, departments and agencies to dispose of those electronic materials. I acknowledge that government officials fear to dispose of waste and old materials because of accountability, but this is something that we are going to address at Cabinet level,” Zawedde said.
She urged Ugandans to stop treating electronic waste in the same way as ordinary household rubbish because some electronic materials contain substances that can harm people and pollute the environment when poorly handled.
Zawedde said proper management of e-waste can also create economic opportunities because some of the discarded materials can be recovered, recycled or sold, creating income and employment for Ugandans.
She said the campaign will therefore seek to change the public’s attitude towards electronic waste by encouraging people to see old electronic equipment not only as rubbish, but also as material that can be safely recovered and reused.
The ministry said the campaign will continue with public awareness activities aimed at educating communities about the dangers of poor e-waste disposal and the opportunities available through recycling and recovery.
The initiative comes as Uganda continues to experience rapid growth in the use of mobile phones, computers, televisions and other electronic devices, increasing the amount of electronic equipment that eventually becomes obsolete.
