Uganda takes the first step towards integrating the circular economy model into its national strategy. The East African country launched its circular economy roadmap on January 31, 2023 in the capital Kampala. The document aims to stimulate sustainable growth and green industrialization, in line with Uganda's national "Vision 2040" program.
The process of creating a circular economy in Uganda now has a roadmap. The official launch ceremony for this document was held on January 31, 2023 in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The document’s provisions guarantee socio-economic development and inclusive growth, including job creation, while protecting the country’s natural capital and combating the effects of climate change.
This initiative jointly supported by the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and the African Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) of the African Development Bank (AfDB), will mobilize government decision-makers, businesses and civil society organizations in efforts to fully harness the potential of circularity to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action.
“Circular economy roadmaps are policy tools to direct investments towards the efficient use of Africa’s natural assets, generating dividends for nature and people,” explains Anthony Nyong, the AfDB’s Director of Climate Change and Green Growth.
The circular economy and green jobs
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, reusing, repairing, renovating and recycling existing products and materials for as long as possible, so that they retain their value. According to the Ugandan authorities, in addition to boosting household incomes, the country’s seven million young people are among those expected to benefit most from the circular economy, through the creation of green jobs. “Uganda, which is in the early stages of its industrialization, has the privilege of following the path of a sustainable transition that allows us to avoid the consequences of resource-inefficient industrialization,” said Joshua Mutambi, Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
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The green economy implementation process also meets the objectives of Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). In the document, updated in September 2022, Uganda pledges to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by 24.7% from business-as-usual levels by 2030, totaling an absolute reduction in CO2 emissions of around 36.75 million tonnes in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, forestry and other land uses, industrial processes and product use, transport and waste.
Boris Ngounou
