A campaign that started out with just three partners, NBS Television, The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and VIVO Energy Uganda, rallying people to abandon single-use plastics (kaveera) has turned into a national affair. The Tuve Ku Kaveera drive has this year seen the Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Century Bottling Company join the struggle. All partners have had on board with a strong message to sensitise and appeal to the end user to do way with kaveera in favour of alternatives that are friendly to the environment, a message that reflects the essence of the campaign.
On 5th May 2019, the Uganda Catholic Church in a press launch announced that Namugongo Martyr’s Shrine is a Kaveera free area starting June 3rd 2019. Pilgrims were advised to carry their items in reusable bags.
On 28th May 2019, the Anglican Shrine has as well taken a stand to ban kaveera for the Anglican shrine, a move that complements the actions of the Catholic Shrine.
Century bottling company brings on board the issue of recycling. With their Plastics Recycling Industries that was established in 2016, they’ve committed themselves to recycle plastics. PRI is now the largest plastic recycling business in Uganda, collecting about 14 tons of plastic daily, and ridding the environment of close to 400 tons of plastic per month. PRI employs 1,500 Ugandans and empowers plastic collectors to earn a living, 80% of whom were previously unemployed women.
In recent times, companies and governments have been vocal about the adverse dangers of plastics on our environment. Fortunately, Africa has been championing this, Rwanda was the first African country to ban single-use plastics, they aim at becoming the world’s first country to have a total ban on all plastics. Kenya has the toughest fines regarding single-use plastics. Tanzania recently joined the fight.
Uganda is the only country in East Africa that is an island of single-use plastics. We need to change this. Everybody should be concerned about the environment.
