African universities are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and low-cost sensing technology to tackle air pollution, one of the continent's biggest public health challenges.
Leading the effort is AirQo, a research initiative at Makerere University in Uganda that combines AI-powered algorithms, weather data and low-cost air quality sensors to improve pollution monitoring and help close critical environmental data gaps.
The project is already working with authorities in 24 African countries, including Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and South Africa.
The initiative is designed to provide accurate, hyperlocal, real-time air quality data to support evidence-based decision-making and help governments better understand the scale of air pollution in African cities.
Speaking to ITWeb Africa on the sidelines of the Africa Clean Air Forum in Pretoria, Engineer Bainomugisha, professor of computer science, head of the Department of Computer Science at Makerere University and AirQo project lead, said air pollution remains one of Africa's deadliest but least visible crises.
An estimated one million people across Africa die each year from poor air quality, yet in many cities the problem remains largely unmeasured and unaddressed.
According to CLEAN-Air Africa, an international global health research unit, exposure to household air pollution is responsible for more than 680 000 premature deaths each year in sub-Saharan Africa, where a substantial proportion of households still rely on solid fuels.
Bainomugisha said universities are well placed to develop technology-driven solutions to major socio-economic challenges.
"Universities are in a good place to look at the intersection of knowledge, innovation and community problems. We have a big issue like air pollution, and we come into this space to see how we can leverage technology and innovation to actually solve air pollution," he said.
He explained that AirQo's sensors are developed in the university's laboratories because conventional air quality monitoring systems remain prohibitively expensive and sparsely distributed across many African countries.
This often leaves policy-makers without reliable data on the scale and impact of air pollution.
"Technology allows us to accelerate progress and overcome barriers like cost and capacity," he said.
A key innovation emerging from the project is the translation of complex environmental data into accessible, actionable information.
Air quality measurements are often expressed in technical units. To address this, the team is developing digital platforms that convert raw data into simple, easy-to-understand information, allowing people to check air quality on their mobile phones and better understand the associated health risks.
Bainomugisha said this also opens the door for more advanced technologies, with researchers exploring how AI models could deliver air quality information in local languages through voice-based systems, enabling people with limited literacy to access the information.
Governments across Africa are beginning to recognise the potential of technologies such as low-cost sensors, AI and cloud platforms. However, adoption remains uneven and is often limited in scale, he said.
Bainomugisha said solutions such as electric vehicles, cleaner cooking technologies and more diverse energy sources could significantly improve air quality.
However, affordability, accessibility and supporting infrastructure remain significant barriers to wider adoption. Government intervention is needed to reduce costs, improve access and support long-term, sustainable implementation, he said.
"If someone wants to buy an electric vehicle, can they find it? That is one thing. You cannot actually access it. But even when they access it, is it affordable? And when it is affordable, is it sustainable? I think the government can play a part in that."
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