POLLUTION

With one of the highest population growth rates in the world (above three percent per year), terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric pollution in Uganda is on the increase. The growing urban population is witnessing increased air, water and land pollution as a result of ve- hicle and industrial emissions; sewage and waste man- agement systems that cannot cope with growing de- mand; and energy needs that largely rely on fuelwood.

Rural populations are also growing and exerting in- creasing pressure on limited land. This has led to soil erosion, water pollution and siltation, and air pollu- tion as a result of land clearing through burning.

Inadequate or weak enforcement of wastewater management standards has also resulted in signifi- cant industrial pollution in and around industrial areas on the shores of Lake Victoria, particularly around Kampala and Jinja.

The introduction of polythene bags has significantly increased terrestrial and water pollution, particu- larly in urban areas. Incongruent implementation of policy guidelines on polythene bags at various levels of government has led to a failure to control poly- thene-derived pollution.

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