Godfrey Ssemanda, a resident of Lambu landing site in Bukakata Sub County, indicates that dumping of the foreign plastic materials is frustrating their local efforts of collecting the waste materials for recycling because part of it remains stuck in the floating vegetation cover on the lake.
Part of the big heaps of plastic that is collected for recycling in Masaka, some of the Materials according to residents float on the Lake Victoria Water from the Neighbouring countries
Different landing sites in Masaka District are choking on heaps of plastic waste. The most affected landing sites include; Lambu, Kaziru,
Kisuku, Makonzi, Ddimo, Bukakata among others, which have a direct linkage to
Lake Victoria which is shared by the East African Community member states.
Richard Musoke, the chairperson of the Beach Management Committee
at Kaziru landing site says that most of the plastic waste dumped in the area comes from Tanzania and are directly dumped into the lake.
He identifies the foreign plastic materials on the labels and
packing bottles used for mineral water, alcoholic and other soft drinks that are
consumed in Tanzania. Musoke explains that much of the foreign plastic
wastes are regularly seen floating on the waters before it is dumped on the
shallow ends of the lake, which is usually at shorelines within Uganda.
//Cue in (Luganda) “plastic
oyo….
Cue out; ……e Uganda mutono.”//
Godfrey Ssemanda, a resident of Lambu landing site in Bukakata Sub
County, indicates that dumping of the foreign plastic materials is frustrating
their local efforts of collecting the waste materials for recycling because
part of it remains stuck in the floating vegetation cover on the lake.
He expresses concern that uncontrolled dumping of plastic
materials from the neighbouring countries is interfering with fish breeding
points, hence affecting the stock and eventually the catch by the fishermen.
//Cue in: “emyalo gyaffe….
Cue out; …. Obuchupa obyo.”//
Antonio Kalyango the Executive Director of Biodiversity
Conservation Foundation-BCF; a local civil society advocating for environmental
protection in Masaka, indicates that they are now looking forward to involving the
fisherman to champion the campaign for proper plastic waste disposal on the
lake.
According to Kalyango, they have found it necessary to encourage
the fishermen to voluntarily pick all the floating materials on the lake, such
that it collected in areas where they can easily be picked for recycling.
But Rose Nakyejjwe, the Masaka District Environment Officer indicates
that it is time that all East African Community member states agree on a joint
conservation operation to save the lake from abuse.
She prefers that besides enforcing a total ban on plastic and polythene
materials, the member states should rigorously fight all irresponsible human
habits that endanger the lake, saying they are considering petitioning the
Ministry of East African Community Affairs about the concern.
