The government of Uganda has made several attempts (on five different occasions to be precise) to ban the manufacture, importation, trade and use of single-use carrier bags and flat plastic bags below 30 microns, however, the implementation of the ban has not been effective. The ban was first announced in 2007and further announcements followed in 2009, 2015, 2018 and recently in 2021, the government renewed its commitment to enforce the ban. The implementation of the ban has not been effective probably due to the structural and instrumental powers of the plastic industry, poorly enforced plastic bag legislation, and resistance from stakeholders.
On March 16th 2022, Bio Vision Africa called on Government to urgently implement the ban on SUPBs during a press conference at her head office in Ntinda while releasing a new East African investigative report on illegal manufacture, importation/exportation, distribution and trade in Single-Use Plastic Carrier Bags. Four countries in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda) collaborated in a two year study (2021 – 2022) to investigate illegal manufacture, distribution and trade in SUPBs in the East Africa region, and recommend measures to stop continued use of Single-Use Plastic Carrier shopping bags (SUPBs) items in the east African Region. Bio Vision Africa conducted the investigative study on illegal manufacture, importation/exportation, distribution and trade in SUPBs in Uganda. The four county reports were merged to form East African Report on the illegal manufacture, importation, trade and use of single-use carrier bags in EAST African Community.
SUPBs have become a pervasive sight on Ugandan landscape. They can be seen stuck on trees, as litter in our neighborhoods, floating in our waterways and as a general aesthetic eyesore of our environment. The perceived convenience and affordable cost of single-use carrier shopping bags has resulted in their widespread consumption; unfortunately however, the improper use and disposal of SUPs and other plastics has exacerbated the plastic pollution on the Ugandan landscape.
Plastic pollution has been recognized to be a global problem that needs to be urgently addressed. To this end, the fifth session of the UN Environment ygAssembly (UNEA-5) sitting in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 2, 2022 delegates adopted a resolution to pave way for the establishment of a legally binding global treaty by 2024 to end plastic pollution. This historic resolution is titled “End plastic pollution: Towards an internationally legally binding instrument”. The decision by UNEA to work towards a legally binding agreement is an indicator of the gravity of the plastic problem globally.
Bio Vision Africa recognizes the fact that some states within the East African Community (EAC) have taken individual efforts to introduce regulations that ban the manufacture, importation/exportation, and Use/consumption of plastic carrier bags. Rwanda began its efforts in 2008 and has had the most successful outcome within the EAC. Kenya followed in 2017 and Tanzania in 2019. Despite the bans on single-use plastic carrier bags, the case studies in each of the EAC countries have shown that the bans have created spaces for cross-border smuggling of these plastic bags. The illicit trade aims to serve the consumer market that is still unclear regarding the alternatives, despite several being available, including traditional African ones.
The investigative report on the illegal manufacture, distribution and trade in Single-Use Plastic items for Eastern Africa recommends several actions to curb this illicit trade and the growing problem caused by single-use plastic carrier bags within the EAC region. Noting that plastic pollution is a global problem that requires immediate action on a global scale, at the East African level the report recommends that the states have to:
- Strengthen and formulate policies & regulations to govern manufacture, importation/exportation, distribution and trade in Single-use plastic items
- Strengthen enforcement and implementing agencies to effectively perform
Increase awareness and sensitization of the general public about available reusable alternatives - Increase stakeholder engagements and collaboration in decision-making at all levels
Support the development of a binding treaty - Enter into regional and global cooperation to address the current plastic pollution
A commonly held argument regarding breaking away from plastics is that without regional and international collaboration, the fight against single-use plastic items will not be an easy feat to handle. We, therefore, need a concerted effort by all to put an end to the manufacture, distribution trade and use of Single-use plastics, starting with plastic carrier bags across the East African region.
