UBF Joins NEMA in the Fight Against Plastics

UGANDA - As Uganda sets the foot to joins the rest of the world in honour of the world environment day, the Uganda Biodiversity Fund has embarked on rallying all Ugandans to minimize the usage of plastics as they option for paper bags.

The world environment day is celebrated every 5th of June worldwide, however the National Environment Management Authority ( NEMA) of Uganda has for a long time urged Ugandans to protect their environment by undertaking all measures to ensure environmental conservation.

The Uganda Biodiversity Fund ( (UBF) has also set aside a target of fundraising approximately 10million USD as it launches a campaign to fight plastics in the country.

According to Ivan Amanigaruhanga, the Executive Director UBF , " In addition to many different assets in the country so as to manage biodiversity, environment and natural resources, UBF demonstrates that actually it is possible to deal with the issue of plastic pollution management and stands as a symbolic activity in preparation for the World Environment Day that happens every fifth of July."

Amanigaruhanga told journalists on Friday in Kampala that UBF is working with communities to show them that they can work on this alone, therefore working together as communities they can actually change the state of the environment around them, by implementing different behaviors mechanically to deal with plastic to stop, littering and also to ensure proper disposal of wastes in a way that is not degrading to the environment.

The rest of the world should understand that Uganda has not lost the battle against plastics as Ugandans can still choose not to use plastics, this therefore implies that there is an opportunity for Ugandans to redeem the situation by their way of changing how they live.

He noted that UBF is planning to implement projects of business in the country through fundraising with a very good beginning point of working with NEMA in this cause, NEMA has the mandate to get all the actors brought together to wake up in this role but also to push for policy change.

UBF also works with the private sector for the campaigns aimed at protection of environment such as the USAID, the European Union and many others so the dream is much bigger.

He however described that organically, UBF targets creating options, options that create jobs for the local person for example through producing paper bags in the backyard that are used by supermarkets which in return earn some money therefore their children are able to go to school.

This kind of initiative ensures that Ugandans shall reduce the damage to the environment and every company shall be proud to be associated with the legacy of a corporate body that produces environmental friendly products in the country.

UBF is looking for $10 million within the next four years to be able to initiate completely the goals of the project but with a minimum of $ 120,000 it is enough to kick start, he said.

About UBF.

A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to conserving the environment by addressing the funding challenge to biodiversity conservation in Uganda, it mobilizes, manages and channels financial resources to organisations that deliver conservation solutions to different communities.

It has partnership with USAID and European Union that supports its activities financially to ensure that Ugandans enjoy a conducive environment.