1. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 E-Waste Management in Uganda Michael Ocero, Acting Commissioner – IT Dept. Ministry of ICT michael.ocero@ict.go.ug ITU Regional Standardization Forum for Africa (Kampala, Uganda, 23-25 June 2014)

2. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 2 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

3. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 3 Background Electronic or Electrical equipment that reaches its end of life is referred to as e- waste 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

4. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 4 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

5. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 5 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%

6. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 6 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

7. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 7 Current Situation Uganda as a country does not have any e- waste handling facility. There is limited e-waste awareness in the among the population. The National Bureau of Standards does not have specific standards addressing e- waste.

8. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 8 Policy Guidance Convention on the Control of Trans- boundary 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.

9. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 9 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;

10. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 10 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

11. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 11 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.

12. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 12 Challenges Rapid increasing use if ICT equipment; Lack of current estimates on quantity of e- waste generated and recycled; Low level of awareness; Lack of standards; a Lack of dismantling, collection and handling facilities; and

13. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 13 Challenges Gaps in existing legislation Existing e-waste handling and disposal practices are largely informal.

14. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 14 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;

15. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 15 Proposed Interventions To raise awareness and advocate for e- waste management across all stakeholders and general public; To carry out baseline surveys to inform e- waste interventions; To maintain statistical records of imported Electronic and Electrical Equipment (EEE); To mainstream e-waste issues in all MDAs and the private sector;

16. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 16 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;

17. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 17 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.

18. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 18 Strategy Action Areas

19. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 19 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.

20. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 20 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.

21. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 21 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.

22. Kampala, Uganda, 23 June 2014 22 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.