14 of 15 Ugandan Cities Exceed Air Pollution Guidelines

What the report says

AirQo data cited by Nile Post shows that air pollution levels in 14 of Uganda’s 15 monitored cities are above the annual guidelines set by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). The report says the findings come from a network of low-cost sensors used across more than 15 cities, with Kampala having the widest coverage and Lira the only monitored city not exceeding the relevant annual limit.

According to Martin Bbaale, AirQo’s Head of Digital Platforms, the sensor network is intended to expand geographic coverage and provide evidence for researchers, city planners, regulators and policymakers. He said the lower-cost approach helps capture differences in pollution within cities, since air quality can vary sharply by neighbourhood. The article also notes that AirQo’s monitoring over several years has not shown a sustained national decline in pollution, although levels dipped in 2022 before rising again by 2025.

The report places the data in the context of growing concern about urban exposure and public health. AirQo’s population-weighted analysis, based in part on Uganda Bureau of Statistics data, is used to estimate how many residents are exposed to different pollution levels. The article says Kampala and Kamuli recorded the highest pollution in the 2023-2025 analysis, while Fort Portal and Gulu trended upward into 2025.

Nile Post also reported that the Buganda Kingdom is increasing awareness efforts and has partnered with AirQo and NEMA to install monitors in Kyaddondo County. Officials there say education is important, but that it must be matched with action to address drivers such as urbanisation, industrialisation and open waste burning.