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Private sector in Uganda is not for the faint hearted

Traders go about their businesses in downtown Kampala amid uncollected heaps of garbage on August 15, 2024. PHOTOs | STEPHEN OTAGE

What you need to know:

  • The game plan was/is to form a grassroots professional association, and one that is all inclusive. This would then be the pressure group that will be speaking for the only sector that is still wholly owned by Ugandans, at least for now.

For the last 43 days, (right after the August 20 Kiteezi 'needless' disaster), I took up an opportunity to find some justice for fallen comrades and friends.

I embarked on a nationwide campaign to collect signatures of setting up the Association of Waste Management in Uganda so as to avoid another kiteezi ever happening again.

The game plan was/is to form a grassroots professional association, and one that is all inclusive. This would then be the pressure group that will be speaking for the only sector that is still wholly owned by Ugandans, at least for now.

Ours ought to be and should always be an umbrella body made up of all professional associations directly related to public health, public sanitation and environment.

I felt that the nationwide local leaders’ engagements were a perfect learning opportunity for the sector and for me, in particular, as we set up the inaugural Association of Waste Management - Uganda

I was looking for inspiration, I got it. I was looking for learning opportunities, I got more. I was looking for opportunities to collaborate, to partner in finding a lasting solution to waste management in Uganda.

I got much more than I was looking for. I got a perfect answer.

I say it was a perfect answer because the nationwide experience gave me a true picture of what Uganda is today.

A country of completely selfish individuals with no 'Uzalendo" at all. Everyone is looking for 'what is in it for me'. No single trace of individual effort for collective gain, at all.

Fellow Ugandans, we need a revolution in waste management in our country!

“One of the biggest challenges/ shock I came across was the acceptance. Even the people we have known while working at our previous postings wouldn’t automatically open up to us. The private sector in Uganda is not for the faint hearted.

Sometimes people tend to value an entity or the position of power one has/ had than the person themselves or the institution.

To all well-meaning Ugandans out there with a noble and patriotic cause, be ready to be disappointed.

I have one big take away, like the Young Yoweri Museveni experienced after losing the Uganda People's Movement (UPM) elections in 1981, "one will need to build his or her entity’s cause and trust beforehand, to be able to attract and convince even the obvious.

It reminded me of the biblical story and fact that a star cannot shine bright during the day rather when it is dark!

Message sent, delivered and deleted!

Bottomline: “Jiandae kisaikolojia.” utapambana mwenyewe. With that, I was duly advised!

In a very special way, I thank the few 'garbage collectors' that we working with to transform into waste managers. Thank you for embracing our ideals.

To those yet to believe in us, like the 27 guns and 44 men tusimbunde!

Kwaheri. Tutaonana mbele ya safari.

We take off knowing that it's an uphill task. A heart and hard duty ahead of us. A patriotic call of not only building AWM -Uganda, but also in finding lasting solutions to sustainable waste management in the republic of Uganda.

We are going to build AWM - Uganda one brick at a time. We will build it as a desired and trusted brand in the shortest time possible. We will see that ‘star’ shining bright.

Thank you for the support thus far and in future.

#Humblingexperience

Bryan Toshi Bwana, National Chairperson,

Association of Waste Management - Uganda.