Adjumani leaders mobilise communities in fight against plastic pollution
ADJUMANI, June 9, 2025 –– Adjumani district leaders have mobilised communities to take decisive action against plastic pollution, urging tree planting, environmental stewardship, and a swift shift away from harmful plastic products. The call to action was made during World Environment Day celebrations held at Ciforo Sub-county headquarters recently.
Delivering a message on behalf of the District Chairperson, Ben Anyama recently, officials stressed that this year’s national theme, “United Against Plastic Pollution”, resonates strongly with the growing environmental crisis in the region.
“From the trading centres of Adjumani Town to the markets of Pakele, Dzaipi, and Ukusijoni, plastic waste has become a common and disturbing sight,” Anyama noted. “Our roadsides are littered with polythene bags, our fields strewn with plastic bottles, and even our rivers, clean sources of water, are now choked with waste.”
He warned that plastic pollution is suffocating ecosystems, harming wildlife, degrading soil fertility, and clogging drainage systems, exacerbating flood risks during rainy seasons.
Calling for collective responsibility, Anyama stated: “We must reflect on how we got here, and more importantly, how we move forward. While enforcing existing waste management laws and the ban on polythene bags below 30 microns is vital, enforcement alone is not enough.”
He urged the business community to contribute by offering environmentally friendly alternatives such as paper bags, reusable containers, and biodegradable packaging.
Anyama also commended positive local initiatives, including clean-up campaigns in Lewa and Pakele, tree-planting efforts along the River Nile, and sustainable farming practices in Dzaipi.
Francis Ojja, the District Forest Officer, highlighted the health hazards linked to plastic pollution, including potential connections to cancer. “If we fail to protect our environment, we risk contaminating the very soil and water that sustain us. Polluted ecosystems cannot support a healthy economy.”
Ojja added: “As our towns grow, so does plastic use. Polythene bags [kavera] takes 450 years to decompose. A soda straw takes 250 years. These materials are polluting our water bodies. We must choose to reuse rather than discard.”
William Amanzuru Leslie, Team Leader of Friends of Zoka, a local environmental NGO, described the fight against plastic pollution as a generational duty. “A plastic-free world is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. The greatest threat to our planet is assuming someone else will save it. The responsibility lies with us.”
Ms Korina Ondoa, district councillor for Pakele Town Council, made a heartfelt appeal to residents, especially women, to lead in adopting sustainable practices.
“As women, we are often the most affected by environmental degradation. Let’s stop burning plastics and embrace waste sorting. No outsider will come to save our environment; it starts with us. Let’s return to traditional crafts and embrace biodegradable materials,” she said.
With rising public awareness and grassroots action, Adjumani district is making meaningful strides to curb plastic pollution, safeguarding its land, water, and future for generations to come.
https://thecooperator.news/nebbi-locals-scold-chinese-investors-over-pollution/
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