The Environmental Impact of Polyethylene Bags in Uganda
PLASTICS BAGS IN UGANDA
Uganda is a country in east Africa with a population of about 20 million, plastics bags have been around in Uganda as far as I can remember, they are commonly called “kaveera’ in uganda. However plastic bags have caused threat to the citizens of Uganda, they pose a danger to the environment and violates the rights of the citizens of Uganda to a clean and healthy environment. They have contributed to the largest pollution in Uganda, in that 75% of the rubbish on the kampala streets which is the capital city of Uganda is plastic bags which results to pollution and then affecting the environment.(New vision news paper pg 7 2006). KAMPALA, Uganda, November 12, 2012 (ENS) – The High Court of Uganda has determined that “the rampant and uncontrolled use of polythene bags” poses a danger to the environment and “violates the rights of citizens of Uganda to a clean and healthy environment.”
In a case brought before the court by the nongovernmental group Greenwatch in 2002, Judge Eldad Mwangusya ruled in October that plastic bags are a danger to the citizens of Uganda and he urged the government to pass a law against them “as a matter of urgency.
Plastic have also posed danger to animal life in Uganda, fishing is one of the sources of income for most Ugandans and plastic bags seems to affect the life of fish in the lakes which the people of Uganda earn a living and sometimes fish is exported to other countries, hence increasing foreign exchange and also providing employment to the citizens who may work in these fish factories around the country.(Acorrding to the ministry of land and fishing in Uganda report on the dangers of plastic to the industry 2007). Hence plastics bags are a big problem to the citizens of Uganda. Though the government have tried to ban the use, manufacture or distribution of plastic bags but in vain, non-profitable organizations (like the Greenwatch), though by june 2007 the after the greenwatch filed its lawsuit against
Uganda is a country in east Africa with a population of about 20 million, plastics bags have been around in Uganda as far as I can remember, they are commonly called “kaveera’ in uganda. However plastic bags have caused threat to the citizens of Uganda, they pose a danger to the environment and violates the rights of the citizens of Uganda to a clean and healthy environment. They have contributed to the largest pollution in Uganda, in that 75% of the rubbish on the kampala streets which is the capital city of Uganda is plastic bags which results to pollution and then affecting the environment.(New vision news paper pg 7 2006). KAMPALA, Uganda, November 12, 2012 (ENS) – The High Court of Uganda has determined that “the rampant and uncontrolled use of polythene bags” poses a danger to the environment and “violates the rights of citizens of Uganda to a clean and healthy environment.”
In a case brought before the court by the nongovernmental group Greenwatch in 2002, Judge Eldad Mwangusya ruled in October that plastic bags are a danger to the citizens of Uganda and he urged the government to pass a law against them “as a matter of urgency.
Plastic have also posed danger to animal life in Uganda, fishing is one of the sources of income for most Ugandans and plastic bags seems to affect the life of fish in the lakes which the people of Uganda earn a living and sometimes fish is exported to other countries, hence increasing foreign exchange and also providing employment to the citizens who may work in these fish factories around the country.(Acorrding to the ministry of land and fishing in Uganda report on the dangers of plastic to the industry 2007). Hence plastics bags are a big problem to the citizens of Uganda. Though the government have tried to ban the use, manufacture or distribution of plastic bags but in vain, non-profitable organizations (like the Greenwatch), though by june 2007 the after the greenwatch filed its lawsuit against