Government Launches E-Waste Management Campaign in Lira

What the report says

Lira City has been chosen as one of the pilot urban councils for a new government campaign to collect and separate electronic waste from regular household and commercial rubbish. According to Nile Post, the initiative was launched during the city’s fourth National Cleaning Day celebrations and is intended to encourage better sorting of discarded electronics, support recycling and reduce environmental and health risks linked to improper disposal.

Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, said residents should separate e-waste from materials such as plastics, grass and organic waste at the point of disposal. He also said the government is working on plans to turn collected waste into useful outputs such as fertiliser and recycled plastic through value addition, although the article did not specify a timeline for those arrangements.

Lira City Mayor Sam Atul said the council will work with Lira University and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance to roll out the system. He said the city wants to be among the first local governments to manage e-waste in this way. The event also featured remarks from Microfinance Support Centre communications manager Tadeo Atuhura, who linked cleanliness to public health and business productivity.

Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng urged residents to keep the city clean ahead of planned football activities at Akii-Bua Stadium for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. More broadly, the campaign fits into Uganda’s wider push for improved sanitation and environmental management, especially in growing urban areas.