ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Africa
(Kampala, Uganda, 23-25 June 2014)
E-Waste Management in Uganda
Michael Ocero,
Acting Commissioner – IT Dept.
Ministry of ICT
michael.ocero@ict.go.ug
Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014
Background
Government of Uganda identified
Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) as an enabling
factor for the socio-economic
development of the country
ICT adoption leads to increased use
of ICT electric and electronic
equipment which gradually reaches
end of life
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Background
Electronic or Electrical equipment that
reaches its end of life is referred to as ewaste
Poor handling of e-waste can lead to
hazards that affect human health and the
environment
Hence, the need to have in place an
appropriate e-waste management policy
to address the challenges it poses to both
humans and the environment
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Current Situation
In the last decade, the Government
of Uganda waived import tax on
computers, software and related
equipment. This has led to
proliferation of electronic equipment
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Current Situation
A study on e-waste in Uganda by
UNIDO indicated that, Government
owns the highest number of ICT
equipment in the country followed by
NGOs at ~75%, large enterprises at
~20%, private households, Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and
others at ~5%
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Current Situation
Individual Government Institutions do not
dispose of obsolete ICT equipment in a
well planned and managed manner. The
same applies to the private sector and
households. Equipment is damped on
outdoor garbage heaps and landfills
There is shortage of qualified manpower
to handle the safe processing and/or
disposal of e-waste in Uganda
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Current Situation
Uganda as a country does not have any ewaste handling facility.
There is limited e-waste awareness in the
among the population.
The National Bureau of Standards does
not have specific standards addressing ewaste.
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Policy Guidance
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal;
Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutant;
World Charter for Nature 1982; and
Vienna Convention for the Protection
of the O-zone layer 1985.
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E-waste Management Policy objectives
Providing for establishment of e-waste
management facilities in the country;
Mobilizing and sensitizing the
Government, private sector and the
communities on the proper management
and handling of e-waste;
Providing specific e-waste regulation (legal
and regulatory);
Developing a critical human resource base
knowledgeable in handling e-waste;
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E-waste Management Policy objectives
Providing for resource mobilization for
efficient management of e-waste;
Providing guidance on the standards of
electronic equipment that is imported;
Establishing incentives for encouraging
both local and foreign investors to
establish e-waste facilities in Uganda; and
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E-waste Management Policy objectives
In order to ensure sustainability of
national collection facilities, a fund will be
set up that will be collected from both the
sellers and buyers of electronic
equipment.
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Challenges
Rapid increasing use if ICT equipment;
Lack of current estimates on quantity of ewaste generated and recycled;
Low level of awareness;
Lack of standards; a
Lack of dismantling, collection and
handling facilities; and
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Challenges
Gaps in existing legislation
Existing e-waste handling and disposal
practices are largely informal.
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Proposed Interventions
To set up an e–waste coordinator to
supervise and address all management
issues for smooth implementation of the
e-waste strategy;
To review and update the legal and
institutional framework for e-waste
management and support enforcement of
laws, regulations and standards;
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Proposed Interventions
To raise awareness and advocate for ewaste management across all
stakeholders and general public;
To carry out baseline surveys to inform ewaste interventions;
To maintain statistical records of imported
Electronic and Electrical Equipment (EEE);
To mainstream e-waste issues in all MDAs
and the private sector;
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Proposed Interventions
To invest in e-waste handling and disposal
infrastructure;
To mobilize human, financial, and
technical resources for e-waste
management;
To set up and operationalise an e-waste
fund;
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Proposed Interventions
To invest in e-waste handling and disposal
infrastructure;
To mobilize human, financial, and
technical resources for e-waste
management; and
To set up and operationalise an e-waste
fund.
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Strategy Action Areas
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Setting up Coordination function
Set-up a coordination function at the
MoICT for all e-waste related initiatives;
Undertake e-waste value chain analysis;
Engage with stakeholders in Government
and Private sector; &
Develop a participatory monitoring and
evaluation framework.
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Strengthening Legal Framework
Review existing laws to cater for e-waste
related areas;
Develop, disseminate and enforce
standards for ICT equipment;
Develop and disseminate standards on
localized Ugandan EEE standards;
Engage WTO member states on Ugandan
EEE standards; &
Regulate activities of e-waste collectors
and dismantling facilities.
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E-waste Awareness
Stakeholder Mapping in order to
determine awareness;
Develop and e-waste communication
strategy;
Undertake e-waste awareness campaigns;
Engage ICT producers and ICT system
operators to participate in awareness; &
Mainstream e-waste issues in educational
curriculum at various levels.
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Investment in E-waste Infrastructure
Establish regional e-waste collection
centers;
Promote take-back schemes;
Set up national dismantling facilities;
Explore options for hazardous e-waste
components; &
Facilitate and incentivize registration and
formalization of e-waste collectors and
transporters.
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