Apart from the famous rolex, the other distinctive thing that defines Uganda is the garbage, specifically single-use plastics more commonly known as ‘kaveera’.
Over time, countries across the world including neighboring Rwanda have agreed to ban single-use plastics given the threat they pose to the environment.
About a year ago, NBS Television, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and VIVO Energy launched a campaign to stop the use of “kaveera”.
Some thought the Tuve Ku Kaveera initiative would be short-lived given the record of similar campaigns in the past but the campaign is proving fruitful with tangible results.
A year on, the Ministry of Education and Sports has ordered all schools to ban the use of kaveera.
The state minister for investment Evelyn Anite has similarly revealed that the Ugandan government is in talks with Swedish investors to invest in recycling plants that would in turn create employment opportunities while saving the environment.
Further, the minister for trade, Amelia Kyambadde, has recognized the effects of single-use plastics on our environment.
“I personally got rid of them all. The corner grocery store in my neighborhood adopted reusable material,” the minister recently revealed.
The direction this campaign is taking is right. We need to trust that people are willing to put our environment first. NBS TV, NEMA and VIVO, the nation is behind you in this struggle. The impact is clearly visible. We shall keep banging on the door until we enter.