Uganda activates task force to tackle e-waste crisis

Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. [ Image: Uganda Communications Commission]

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Uganda is tightening its policy on electronic waste management as it emerges as one of the world's most serious environmental challenges.

Adopting a multisectoral approach, the ministries of information and communications technology, Lands, Water and Environment, and Public Works and Transport have combined forces to monitor the scourge. 

Delegations from these ministries kick-started the mission with a visit to Cornerstone Plaza in downtown Kampala on Monday, 13 April 2026, to assess how ICT e-waste moves through the country’s informal systems.

The commercial hub is known for housing thousands of electronics repairers and computer accessory shops.

The tour provided practical insights into the ICT E-Waste Collection Project being implemented by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). 

The pilot project has already collected six tonnes of waste and established 20 drop-off points nationwide.

“ICT e-waste management requires a whole-of-government approach,” Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said. 

She spoke on behalf of the inter-ministerial task force, noting that the Office of the Prime Minister is guiding the national framework.

The Ministry of ICT provides technical oversight and standards—including data sanitisation to protect citizen privacy—while the Ministry of Water and Environment ensures compliance with the National Environment Act. 

The Ministry of Lands supports planning for regional collection centres, and the Ministry of Works oversees the logistics of moving hazardous materials to the National E-Waste Management Centre in Entebbe.

This coordination is a landmark development for the E-Waste Management Policy of Uganda. 

Experts note that while the ICT revolution has driven economic growth, it has also resulted in households generating 36 400 tonnes of waste annually.

"At Cornerstone Plaza, we witnessed a vibrant ecosystem where old gadgets are given a second life," Zawedde said. 

"The goal is to build a system that supports both safety and business growth, ensuring that items many consider useless are instead repaired or reused, creating a sustainable chain of value."

The UCC pilot project is set to expand beyond Kampala to regional hubs in the next six months, aiming to formalise the "repair-and-reuse" economy while eliminating the informal burning of devices, which releases toxic fumes into the atmosphere.