The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has launched a crackdown on passenger service vehicles (PSVs) that do not have dustbins on board. This move by NEMA is part of its anti-litter campaign, which carries the tagline ‘Yonja Uganda’ and aims to combat littering.
Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, the Executive Director of NEMA, presided over the campaign’s launch and highlighted its goal of curbing littering while reminding residents about its detrimental impact on the environment. The campaign is set to extend its efforts nationwide.
Barirega explained, “NEMA is leading a public anti-littering campaign to address the growing problem of littering and illegal dumping, promoting a stronger sense of accountability and community responsibility.”
As part of this crackdown, NEMA has introduced an Express Penalty Scheme for environmental violations, primarily targeting public vehicles such as taxis and buses.
Barirega clarified, “It is illegal for public passenger vehicles to lack waste receptacles on board, and the legal fine is Shs12 million. However, on April 1, we launched an administrative penalty scheme, allowing individuals to choose to pay a fine instead of going to court. Opting for a fine voluntarily incurs a penalty of Shs6 million, while refusing the fine could result in a court-imposed penalty of up to Shs12 million.”
He added, “We will conduct operations across the country, beginning with this road. Enforcement efforts will include the arrest and prosecution of individuals for littering. Additionally, we will impound public passenger vehicles found without waste receptacles. We have already raised awareness among public transport providers, so there is no excuse for not having a waste receptacle in their vehicles.”
