Uganda is a landlocked East African country bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is part of the African Great Lakes region, nestled north of Lake Victoria. Uganda is in a period of substantial economic growth, reliant on exports of coffee, oil, metals, fish, and other products. However, with all the economic growth, Uganda still struggles to control poverty and provide citizens with basic needs.
Summary of Pollution in Uganda
Yale’s Environmental Performance Index Survey (EPI) gives countries scores based on a variety of environmental criteria. In 2020, Uganda received a score of 35.6 out of 100, placing its rank at just 127 of 180 countries evaluated.
Download Full Report: Uganda EPI Country Profile
The 2020 EPI survey of Uganda found it ranks low in environmental pollution compared to other countries. Most criteria evaluated for Uganda have scores well below world averages and scores at or below regional averages. Scores are poor across the board in air quality, water quality, and land pollution, which are specific weak spots in the management of wastewater and solid waste.
Air Pollution in Uganda
Overall, air quality in Uganda was rated at 32.6 out of 100, giving it a ranking of 112 of 180 countries evaluated. Sources of air pollution in Uganda include:
- Vehicle emissions
- Waste burning
- Burning of wood and coal for household and industrial use
The country doesn’t have a huge problem with particulate matter pollution (it scored a 48 out of 100), but has very low scores in household solid fuels, meaning household burning of coal and wood significantly impacts air quality. Air quality is particularly and consistently unsafe in Uganda’s cities Kampala and Jinja as they are large manufacturing centers.
Learn more about air quality standards and measurement.
Water Pollution in Uganda
Water pollution in Uganda is markedly worse compared to its air pollution. Uganda’s growing economy has caused a rise in population that its clean water supply has not been able to keep up with.
Water pollution issues in Uganda are largely caused by:
- Lack of wastewater treatment infrastructure
- Lack of government funds to create a healthy drinking water supply
- Industrial and residential waste runoff
Learn more about water pollution and how it’s measured.
Uganda’s Water Quality
Uganda scored very low on the metrics evaluated in the EPI involving water quality. Tap water is generally not safe to drink in Uganda, and over half of the population does not have access to safe drinking water.
Drinking Water
- Rank: 143/180
- EPI Score: 17.6/100
Wastewater Management
- Rank: 118/180
- EPI Score: 0.4/100
Water pollution in Uganda is largely caused by its essentially nonexistent wastewater management. When wastewater is left untreated, it can bring harmful chemicals and pathogens into lakes, rivers, soil, and drinking water.
Land Pollution in Uganda
While Uganda’s land pollution is in a better state compared to its water pollution, it’s not by much. Uganda’s land is polluted through:
- Deforestation
- Industrial soil pollution
- Improper solid waste management
Deforestation is a huge issue facing Uganda today. (This issue is reflected in the low ecosystem services score). Deforestation causes loss of habitat and increased soil pollution.
Solid Waste Management
- Ranking: 118/180
- EPI Score: 4.9/100
Ecosystem Services
- Ranking: 137/180
- EPI Score: 24.4/100
The EPI report also found solid waste management to be very poor in Uganda. The low score indicates that there is very little to no solid waste management in the country, so solid waste is allowed to pile up and harm soil and ecosystem health.
Key Takeaways
Here’s the big picture of pollution in Uganda:
- Overall EPI Ranking: 127/180
- Air Pollution: Poor air quality, especially in cities, due to industry and household burning of coal and wood.
- Air Pollution Rank:112/180
- Water Pollution: Most Ugandan water is polluted due to improper wastewater management and most Ugandans do not have access to healthy drinking water.
- Drinking Water Rank: 143/180
- Wastewater Management Rank: 118/180
- Land Pollution: Lots of recent deforestation and little to no solid waste management.
- Solid waste management rank: 118/180
- Ecosystem Services rank: 137/180