General
Uganda’s IGE Fellows discuss Draft National Peer Review document on fossil fuel, plastic pollution & forest loss
Uganda’s Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) Fellows have called for national policy instruments that are clear with objectives and implementation plans.The need for reliance on information-based instruments has also been emphasized to contribute to the information disclosure and mindset change.
These came up during the In-country National Policy Review Workshop organized by the IGE support team at the Environment for Development Initiative Centre at Makerere University on 1st June 2022.
The New IGE Cohort 2022 was launched in Naivasha Kenya followed by an online training and is now conducting National Peer Review exercises.
The overall objective of the workshop was to strengthen the collaboration between the academia and practitioners for increased evidence-based policy making for the Inclusive Green Economy.
Specifically, the workshop reflected on the IGE Vision, strategies and programmes to expose the gaps in the National Peer Review document relating to policy instruments.
The Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale said, the IGE programme at the Centre focuses on training, peer learning and exchange of ideas.
“Policy review in this context looks at the existing instruments in the country to address environmental issues. We normally focus on literature review and taking stock on environment”. Prof. Bbaale explained.
Participants observed that the National forest cover has been damaged in many aspects from human activities but not well researched.
“Environment and Environmental resource economics has not been studied well in many of the universities across the globe.
This means environmental economists have to care so much on the environment and thus IGE fellowship addresses much of the environment related tasks”, Fulbright Scholar and Research fellow at the EfD-Mak Centre, Dr. Nick Kilimani observed.
The draft NPR document on the three themes: fossil fuel, forest loss and plastic pollution in the country was presented and discussed by the IGE fellows. See attachment for the details of the different themes, discussions, observations and recommendations.
IGE Fellows’ NPR discussions on Fossil fuel, Forest loss and Plastic pollution
| Theme | Observations | Recommendations |
| 1. Fossils A ban on importation of used vehicles aged 15 years and above. Subsidizing on manufacturing of electric vehicles. Subsidizing on solar energy. A 45% subsidy on solar panels in 2007. Establishment of non-motorized transport corridor. Encouraging use of public transport. Reduce cost of inspection for electricity. | Policies have been majorly affected by government in many departments thus civil disobedience of the policies. Need to review, terminate or pick up a new policy. Age of a car does not qualify a policy if not respected by the implementer. Instrument on solar energy is goo but costs still remain high in rural areas in terms of accessibility, affordability and inclusiveness. People will prefer staying with old cars rather than a new purchase which is more expensive. Information on Kiira electric motors missing Solar subsidies have not been able to impact to the end user. Public transport will be on demand rather than private cars. Inspection costs of electricity still remain higher. | Recruit a research officer in key ministry to address specifically policy issues. Give power subsidy up to the end user to encourage use of cleaner energies including LPG and hydroelectricity. Institute a policy mix in executing instruments. Evaluate identified policy instruments in terms of performance, impact and what needs to be done for robust results. Use of train as an alternative. Provide Information on Kiira electric motors and include walk -ways information in the write up. Include plans for geothermal. |
| 2. Forest loss Providing good quality subsidized seedlings. Subsidizing firms that produce clean energy saving stoves. Continuous planting of trees by NFA. Resurveying, demarcating all forest reserves. Eviction from forest reserves. In 2020 about 200 land titles were cancelled in Mukono and Wakiso districts. | Lack of training for Tree seedlings provision and maintenance. Green economy concentration in greater Kampala. Tree planting does not cater for management. Inadequate monitoring of forest resources. Lack of initiative to track Green jobs. Inadequate financing to local governments. Information on local instruments missing. Supply – demand missing link | Focus training on tree seedling management and integrate tree seedlings into fruit trees. Adopt Clean energy as multiple tool for green economy. Diversify green economy outside greater Kampala. Digitalize monitoring of forest resources. Track green jobs. Increase financing to local governments. Provision of information on instruments. |
| 3. Plastic pollution A ban on all plastics with a provision on recycling and extended producer responsibility and product storage. Disposal of plastic wastes | Lack of strong information models. Low involvement of the private sector. Public mindset on dangers of plastics still low. De-link is from the housing sector and wiring system Local government involvement in pollution control still wanting. Implementation plan not clear. | Strengthen information based instruments to model behavior and alternatives. Compounding private sector efforts. Task the local governments on pollution control. Policy instruments should come out clearly with implementation structure. Need for more reliance on the use of information-based instruments. |
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