As you are all aware, the environmental crimes of littering and noise pollution, have become an epidemic. As witnessed on our roadsides, streets, drainages, in private and public spaces, the amount of litter dropped each year is on the rise, with all types of material like plastic bags, polythene bags, food wrappers, boxes, garbage etc, that is disposed of incorrectly, thus reducing or diminishing the value of our natural environment. It also negatively impacts our environment by choking waterways, endangering marine life, as well as native animals by polluting their food and water, blocks and causes floods, can become a fire hazard (e.g lit cigarettes being thrown from motor vehicles), can be dangerous or cause health risks (e.g broken glass, syringes), and costly to the urban and local councils, etc. The public should know that littering the environment is a crime, and that there are laws, which exist to keep our country clean.
Therefore, as we countdown to the effective enforcement of the environmental laws, regulations and protocols, the UPF has teamed up with NEMA, Kampala City Authority, UPDF, all Local Governments, NGOs, religious leaders, the business community, the transport sector, schools, the media and all MDAs etc, in conducting sustained and robust public education programs, for the next 27 days, on how to counter littering, illegal dumping and noise pollution. We all need to concert efforts and reverse this trend by turning the declining attitude towards our environment, into a more positive one, for a better environment to live and work in.
The awareness campaigns will be widely carried out on TV, posters, print media and stakeholder engagements. We do however, urge all citizens and visitors in the country to follow the NEMA guidelines on public space and help prevent litter and noise. Common elements of the guidelines include; bin placement, plastic bag litter management at recreational parks, carparks, public transport parks, sports venues, restaurants and other places where large gatherings congregate.
We also call upon all Local Governments to get involved in the prevention of litter campaigns, through initiatives like bin placement and emptying, litter patrols, street sweeping and manual clean ups, litter prevention education campaigns in partnership with local businesses, industry stakeholder groups, and private sector. Educational flyers and other advertising materials in local languages to reinforce the campaign is also important.
The Environmental task teams, will also be responsible for awareness campaigns on noise ordinance violations, that are people – generated or controlled, which disturbs the peace, quiet of any neighborhood, or causes discomfort annoyance to any reasonable persons, residing in an area. And further reveal the factors that determine noise levels, like sound levels, proximity of the noise to residential or working areas, time of the day, the reason for the noise, duration and character of the noise, how often it occurs and the location.
The public should know that if voluntary compliance on littering and noise pollution is not obtained by 1st April, 2023, our Environmental Protection Officers will proceed with the enforcement process, which typically includes, imposing an EPS fine or other penalties. Chronic noise producers who refuse to cooperate or follow the prescribed mitigation plan, shall be subjected to civil penalties, court action and suspension of outdoor amplified or acoustic music for a period. The mitigation plan may include; restrictions on days of the week, or hours of noise producing activity, structural changes, reviews, revision or termination of the plan.
Our Environmental Protection Officers have a wealth of experience and good practices in tackling environmental crimes. They will work with all inspectors from NEMA, City Authorities, the IT specialists in CCTV monitoring centres and all other concerned members of the public to detect and prevent litter, other related offences of illegal dumping and noise pollution.
SCP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
6th March 2023
