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O n Friday, 8th June 2018, members of Kampala Pollution Control Task Force (PTF) reaffirmed the need to work together if they are to effectively manage the super- wicked problems of development, urbanization and maintaining the quality of our valuable natural assets. This was at Speke Resort & Conference Centre, Munyonyo. Under the theme “collaborated planning towards amicable actions for a pollution free Kampala city” the dialogue attracted about 163 participants including industrial companies and the general private sector, Civil Society Organizations, banking institutions, public sector and, Development Partners. KCCA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Musisi cited the challenge of limited resources at KCCA for waste management (16 garbage disposal trucks are currently owned by KCCA compared to the required 60) and therefore called for more partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders to transform in to a more resilient city. She challenged the participants not to expect change from high level but to start the change themselves because this is a battle for all. Mr. Christian Schnurre, the Country Director for GIZ- Uganda commended the job the PTF team has done and stated that German Development Cooperation through GIZ - Enhanced Water and Sanitation Security (ENWASS) and International Water Stewardship Programme (IWaSP) has supported the Kampala Pollution Taskforce since its inception because they believe in PTF’s objective: “to strengthen collective action for a pollution free Greater Kampala that safeguards water and environmental resources while fostering inclusive growth and prosperity”. Mr. Mathew Parr emphasized the need for Green Growth and Environmental Stewardship as a solution to the ‘super wicked problem’. This would necessitate coming up with macro and micro – Green Economy strategies, sector transitions, investment in water and environment sector and capturing opportunities with Green Bonds. Deputy Managing Director – Technical Services NWSC, Eng. Johnson Amayo, informed the dialogue that the City of Kampala obtains its water supply from Ggaba Water Treatment Plant that abstracts its raw water from the Murchison Bay of Lake Victoria and yet the water quality of this Bay has experienced severe deterioration over the years due to increasing population and human activities that range from wetland encroachment and degradation, discharge of untreated wastewater and runoff within the catchments. As a result, the costs of water purification have tripled in ten years (see graph). Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner Water Resources Planning and Regulation in the Directorate of Water Resources Management emphasized the need to plan at catchment level as compared to institutional level since water resources boundaries do not respect such administrative borders. He emphasized that managing the current water pollution challenge requires an integrated and sustainable approach that is based on the drainage areas of the various watersheds cutting across Kampala. This was to add on the fact that the problem of pollution cannot be managed by one institution and thus a call for collaboration at the different stages of planning, resource mobilization and implementation. However, proper planning can only be guided by accurate data as urged by Dr. Tom Okurut, Executive Director- NEMA. Dr. Okurut further warned out on the use of plastic bags in cooking and the danger of wrapping hot food in plastics because of the negative impact this has on human health. These bags contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that increase the risk of attracting cancer. Director Membership UMA Mr. Mubarak Nkuutu, in his closing remark, applauded that there is a tremendous improvement in the level of trust and working relationship between industries and the public regulatory bodies which he attributes to the activities of the Kampala Pollution Control Task Force. Although Kampala and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area in general recognizes that addressing environmental pollution is crucial to sustainable development, it is equally good to note that environmental pollution and development portray super-wicked problems in that a move towards development could easily lead to greater pollution problems. For example, the cutting down of trees and forests and reclamation of wetlands for industrialization, and development of urban cities with tarmacked roads and concrete houses, all increase the level at which emissions are released to the environment. Prof. Shuaib Lwasa, when delivering his key note address noted the usefulness of data as it tells us where we are and transparency about processes of operation and quality of effluent is the starting point to find workable scalable solutions. “Actors are not only regulatory or enforcers but producers of wastewater and private sector actors” Kampala is the 13th fastest growing city on the planet with an urban growth rate of 5.2%. This growth has been linked to vast expansion of human settlements, industries and commercial areas. Whereas there are positive social and economic benefits of urbanization, the unregulated development of this sector has resulted in significant negative impacts on the city’s environmental quality and ecosystem services. The Kampala Pollution Control Taskforce (PTF) In Kampala and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, unregulated industrial wastewater is largely disposed of through storm water channels and wetlands which drain directly into the Inner Murchison Bay of Lake Victoria, the main source of freshwater for the city. This causes significant public health risks and environmental damage and the constant increase in the cost of water treatment. Many industries do not comply with the wastewater discharge regulations. The relationship between regulatory authorities and the private sector is sometimes characterized by mistrust. In addition, many private companies are unaware of the availability of affordable state of-the-art waste treatment systems and lack guidance on the best practice on environmental compliance. “PTF is a platform for collaboration and developing environmentally friendly business” In response to the above, KCCA, NWSC, DWRM and NEMA established the Kampala Pollution Control Task Force in 2012 with support from GIZ water programme. Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and Uganda Cleaner Production Centre (UCPC) were also brought on board to enhance the engagement of the industrial sector through a Public-Private Dialogue regarding cleaner production and improved resource recovery and reuse efficiency with focus on water, waste and energy optimization. The PTF is currently coordinated by KCCA as the secretariat. Since its establishment, the PTF and its activities are being supported by GIZ RUWASS-ENWASS and the GIZ International Water Stewardship Programme (IWaSP). The PTF aims to strengthen collective action for a pollution free Greater Kampala that safeguards water and environmental resources while fostering inclusive growth and prosperity. It promotes a clean, green and prosperous Kampala, promotes. For more information, please visit: http://www.kcca.go.ug/pollution-control-task-force Through different approaches, like the Kampala Green Industry Campaign (GIC) conducted in 2016, the PTF has recorded improvement in resource management by winners of the campaign. For example, Uganda Batteries Limited has had 16% savings on utility while Hariss International reduced the consumption of domestic water by 71.78% as portrayed in the diagrams below. Kampala Public- Private Waste Water Dialogues (KWWD) The KWWD is an annual event hosted by the Kampala Pollution Control Taskforce since 2015 with funding from German Development Cooperation and the UK Department for International Development (DfID). The event aims at bringing together the public and private sector to dialogue about the emerging pollution of water resources and the environment in general. This year’s dialogue focused on the essentials of joint planning and amicable solutions between the private and the public sector and how both sectors can work together for achieving the common goal. The overall objective was to bring harmony between the private and public sector for activities and actions that are geared towards minimizing and consequently eliminating water pollution in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area. Participants of this dialogue agreed to the fact that natural infrastructure such as wetlands and forests play a crucial role in flood management, filtration of wastewater and it is vital to bring together stakeholders to understand these and other economic, social and environment values. The dialogue agreed for the need to exhibit alternative technologies for waste management, energy management, recycling waste, while involving people from the grass root levels. Other solutions and ways forward included; − Behavioral / mindset change – Polluter pay principle − KCCA and NEMA to jointly follow up on noise polluters − Behavior change. It starts with us − Business associations should effectively represent and inform their members. − Formalizing the plastic collection business “Keep your Kampala clean by treating your industrial waste water, managing your solid waste and avoiding littering, using improved toilets to collect faecal sludge and transport to treatment ” Mr. Mubarak Nkuutu - Director Membership UMA, Jennifer Musisi Semakula- ED KCCA, Mr. Mathew Parr- Country Coordinator IWaSP, Eng. Johnson Amayo- Deputy MD NWSC, Prof Shuaib Lwasa- Makerere University, Dr. Callist Tindimugaya –Commissioner Planning and Regulation DWRM, and Dr. Tom Okurut-ED NEMA during the 3rd Kampala Public-Private Waste Water Dialogue on Friday 8th June 2018 at Speke Resort & Conference Centre, Munyonyo. Participants at the Kampala waste water dialogue 2018 COST OF WATER PURIFICATION: OSM Costs (Chemical Costs) have Tripled KAMPALA GETS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS SOLUTIONS TO THE SUPER WICKED PROBLEM PRESS RELEASE KAMPALA POLLUTION CONTROL TASK FORCE With Support From Monitor Full PG AD.indd 8 6/9/18 4:26:48 PM
