Environmentalists in Masaka City have launched a campaign to push for a new bylaw regulating the use of polythene bags, starting with Nyendo-Mukungwe Division as a pilot area.
The initiative aims to reduce plastic waste and pollution to promote environmentally friendly alternatives across the city.
The proposed bylaw, championed by the Bio-Diversity Conservation Foundation (BCF), seeks to curb the use of polythene bags in the city’s six-parish, 80-village strong Nyendo-Mukungwe Division before expanding to other divisions.
The five-month pilot phase, under the theme “Towards a Polythene Waste-Free Nyendo-Mukungwe,” will include community consultations, awareness campaigns, and alternative product development, including the production of paper bags by local youth.
Tony Kalyango, CEO of BCF, emphasized the importance of involving communities in the effort.
“The project will entail improving waste management in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division. Through stakeholder consultations, we aim to gather views that will help us craft a bylaw responsive to local needs,” he said.
“We expect the Mayor’s office to support this proposal and implement it in Nyendo-Mukungwe before scaling up.”
Masaka City Mayor Florence Namayanja has welcomed the initiative, calling polythene bags a “disaster to the city environment.”
“They affect the soil and drainage systems because they don’t decompose. This initiative is timely, especially as we work to green the city and revive the Mayor’s Gardens,” Namayanja said.
She acknowledged the national government’s failure to enforce an earlier ban on polythene bags but expressed optimism about local enforcement.
Namayanja urged the bylaw drafters to identify practical alternatives to plastic and called on residents to support the initiative.
Meanwhile, Henry Kibuka, the city’s Assistant Environment Officer, called for the establishment of a Utilities Court branch in Masaka to handle environmental crimes locally.
“Environmental crimes should be prioritized with swift justice. A local court would reduce case backlog and support enforcement of the proposed bylaw,” he said.
Environmental lawyer and consultant Sam Ssekyewa stressed the importance of community sensitization and stakeholder involvement.
“This bylaw is for the people. We need to mobilize them, inform them of alternatives, and consider exemptions for certain businesses. Enforcement should be collaborative,” Ssekyewa noted.
Vincent Kasumba, president of the Masaka City Development Forum, linked poor plastic waste management to recurring urban drainage problems.
“Despite efforts to improve city drainage, many channels are blocked due to plastic waste. A bylaw is necessary to address this problem at its root,” he said.
As Masaka City takes a significant step toward environmental sustainability, the success of the pilot project in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division could serve as a model for other urban centers grappling with plastic pollution.
If successful, the bylaw will not only clean up the city but also create jobs, promote innovation, and lay the foundation for a greener future.
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