By KT Reporter
Uganda, through the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has been piloting an electronic waste (ICT e-waste) collection system as part of efforts to address the growing threat of hazardous waste from electronic gadgets to human health and the environment.
The two-month pilot follows a report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicating that Uganda generates up to 41,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually from discarded devices such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, refrigerators, ironing boxes, and air conditioners.
However, these are 2022 figures. Since then, the use, production, and importation of electronic devices have significantly increased, likely pushing waste volumes even higher. Of the total e-waste generated, ITU estimates that only 200 tonnes are formally collected and recycled.
UCC says the pilot programme, which focused specifically on ICT e-waste from communications equipment, has provided valuable insights to inform a nationwide rollout. According to Rebecca Mukite, the Head of Communication Infrastructure Services at UCC, the project, dubbed “The ICT E-Waste Collection Roadmap”, aims to make electronic waste more valuable than hazardous, depending on how it is collected and handled.
Mukite attributes the rising levels of e-waste to the increasing importation and production of low-quality and counterfeit devices, which have shorter lifespans and pose major disposal challenges. Although UCC has a type approval mechanism to ensure only gadgets meeting specific standards enter the market, some substandard products still find their way in and quickly become obsolete.
She noted that while programmes under the Universal Access Fund, which is financed by licensed telecom operators, have distributed gadgets such as computers, laptops, iPads, and solar systems to underserved communities, many of these devices do not last long.
Mukite added that in several schools supplied with computers, often fewer than half remain functional, raising concerns about how the faulty equipment is disposed of.
She emphasised that most consumers lack clear information about ICT waste management, leading to improper disposal and unsafe storage of electronic waste. The roadmap, she said, will therefore guide awareness campaigns aimed at promoting behavioural change and responsible disposal.
The new roadmap is designed to help UCC implement Uganda’s Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management Policy of 2012.
According to Susan Atengo Wegoye, UCC’s Commission Secretary and Director of Legal Affairs, the volume of non-functioning communication equipment is expected to surge as new regulatory standards take effect.
She cited the launch of the Central Equipment Identity Register (Simu Klear System), which blocks non-compliant devices from operating on local networks. Once deactivated, these gadgets will have to be safely disposed of, underscoring the urgency of a proper e-waste management system.
The pilot project was implemented by UCC in partnership with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), local governments, and private sector partners to test real-world collection systems.
Patrick Mundua, a member of the National Steering Committee at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said the pilot revealed that one of the major challenges is the tendency among Ugandans to constantly upgrade to the latest devices even when their current gadgets are still functional.
To address this, NEMA is developing a new policy framework that will make manufacturers and importers responsible for their products throughout their lifecycle until proper disposal, an approach known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
James Muhindo, Senior Legal Officer at NEMA, said the policy is benchmarked on global best practices and includes mechanisms such as a deposit-refund scheme, where buyers pay a refundable deposit that is returned when they hand back old or defective gadgets.
Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said the 2012 E-Waste Policy will be updated by the end of this financial year to align with emerging waste trends and technologies.
She noted that e-waste has become the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with the world generating nearly 62 million tonnes in 2022, yet only 22 per cent of it was formally collected and recycled.
Dr Zawedde also discouraged households from hoarding old or dysfunctional electronics due to sentimental attachment or the belief they might be useful someday. She warned that such gadgets may contain toxic elements linked to illnesses and even deaths.
The ICT E-Waste Collection Roadmap is expected to expand access, inclusion, and innovation in waste management, while introducing new responsibilities for producers, distributors, and consumers.
By promoting a circular digital economy, Uganda hopes to turn electronic waste from a public health risk into a source of value creation, ensuring that the nation’s growing digital transformation remains both sustainable and safe.
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