Uganda Sector Strategy for Organic Waste Management (SOWU)

 The project will also enhance the capacity of relevant national and subnational institutions, policy and legal frameworks, and financing options to promote action on waste separation, organic waste diversion from landfills, and the extraction of value from organic waste.  

The reduction of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) is crucial for simultaneously slowing down climate change and reducing air pollution. Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide in 100 years.  However, CH₄ is considered a short-lived greenhouse gas as it degrades in the atmosphere in about a decade.  Therefore, actions to reduce CH₄ emissions can swiftly mitigate the rate in global warming in the near-future. Most of the anthropogenic CH₄ emissions come from fossil fuels, agriculture, and waste. 

In developing countries, between 50% and 60% of the waste is organic. When disposed of in landfills and dumpsites, it decomposes, generating CH₄ emissions. Besides contributing to emissions, organic waste is lost instead of being reused or recirculated as a valuable material (e.g., compost).  Therefore, taking actions towards sustainable organic waste management is meaningful in reducing SLCPs as well as creating new business opportunities.

SOWU expected outcomes:

1. The Government of Uganda endorses the sector strategy for organic waste management by the end of the project or soon after
2. The Government of Uganda has greater access to finance to implement its organic waste management strategy by the end of the project or soon after
3. National and subnational authorities in Uganda have a demonstrated increased capacity for organic waste management at the end of the project 

Project partners:

• Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

Project collaborators:

• African Centre for Clean Air (Uganda)

Ongoing activities:

• Development of national SLCPs inventory for the waste sector