KAMPALA SHOWCASES CLEAN AIR LEADERSHIP AT AFRICA CLEAN AIR FORUM

PRETORIA, South Africa- Kampala is emerging as a model for African cities tackling air pollution, with the city’s leadership highlighting technology, community action and green mobility initiatives at the Africa Clean Air Forum 2026 in Pretoria.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki told delegates that the Ugandan capital has transformed its approach to air quality management, moving from limited monitoring capacity in 2018 to one of Africa’s most extensive urban air quality monitoring networks.

“Kampala’s experience” the title of Buzeki’s presentation detailed the city’s expansion to 134 air quality monitoring stations, including hyperlocal sensors that provide real-time public data on pollution levels.

The monitoring network has helped Kampala better understand pollution trends and design targeted interventions as the city works toward reducing average particulate matter levels by half by 2030.

Buzeki said the city’s clean air agenda is anchored in legislation and policy measures, including national environmental and public health laws, the Kampala Clean Air Action Plan 2025–2030 and the upcoming Kampala Air Quality Management Bill.

“Clean air is not only an environmental issue; it is a public health and urban development priority,” Buzeki told participants at the forum.

The Africa Clean Air Forum opened with a call for stronger action from governments, institutions and communities. South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Hon. Bernice Swarts, challenged African leaders to treat clean air as a basic necessity for healthy and sustainable cities.

Buzeki said Kampala’s approach goes beyond technology by placing residents at the centre of environmental action.

She highlighted community-led initiatives, including neighbourhood cleanups, training of journalists as clean air champions and the involvement of Village Health Teams in promoting awareness and monitoring air quality.

The KCCA ED said the approach has helped shift clean air from being viewed as a government responsibility to a shared civic duty.

“Kampala’s clean air journey is built on partnerships, between government, communities, the private sector and citizens,” Buzeki said.

The city is also integrating clean air goals into transport and urban planning. Buzeki pointed to investments in cycling lanes, pedestrian walkways, electric buses and incentives supporting electric vehicles and motorcycles as part of efforts to reduce emissions from transport.

She said a new traffic control centre that will manage all signalised junctions is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and contribute to lower emissions.

“These initiatives are not only about reducing pollution, but also about building a culture of green mobility and healthier living,” Buzeki said.

Kampala’s efforts have received international recognition. The city recently won the National Environment Sustainability Award in June 2026 and was selected among 15 cities nominated for the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation from more than 265 applicants worldwide.

The city was also inducted as the first African city into the International Network of Tree Cities, with Buzeki noting that Kampala has approximately 5,705 trees per square kilometre.

She urged African cities to collaborate in addressing air pollution, warning that environmental challenges do not stop at national borders.

“Pollution knows no borders,” Buzeki said, calling for greater investment in real-time data systems, community participation and integrated urban solutions.

The Africa Clean Air Forum 2026 continues until July 16 at the University of Pretoria and the CSIR Convention Centre, bringing together policymakers, researchers and urban leaders focused on advancing clean air solutions across the continent.

By Public and Corporate Affairs