Yesterday afternoon, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Amina Zawedde, together with fellow Permanent Secretaries from theMinistry Of Lands, Office Of The Prime Minister and Water Ministry, visited Cornerstone Plaza in downtown Kampala to see firsthand how ICT e-waste moves through Uganda’s informal and formal systems, and to gain practical insights into the ICT e-waste collection project being implemented by UCC Official.
The visit offered a real, on-the-ground understanding of how ICT devices are handled once they leave households, moving through repair, refurbishment, and resale rather than immediately becoming waste.
They also interacted with a vibrant ecosystem where young technicians repair, refurbish, and resell devices, making technology more affordable while creating jobs and skills.
Dr. Zawedde noted that: “ICT e-waste management requires a whole-of-government approach. The Office of the Prime Minister is guiding the national framework, the Ministry of ICT provides technical oversight and sector-specific standards, including areas such as data sanitization, while the Ministry of Water and Environment ensures environmental compliance. The Ministry of Lands supports planning and land use, and the Ministry of Works supports logistics and infrastructure. Together, we are building a coordinated system across the full value chain.”
Read More .........
Uganda is advancing practical solutions to electronic waste through a pilot initiative led by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. The approach focuses on aligning policy with how ICT devices are actually used, repaired, and eventually discarded.
Electronic devices do not become waste immediately. They move through a value chain of repair, reuse, refurbishment, and resale before final disposal.
To ground this understanding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, hosted a field visit to Cornerstone Plaza in downtown Kampala. The visit brought together Dorcas W. Okalany of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Bageya Waiswa of the Ministry of Works and Transport, and Alex Kakooza of the Office of the Prime Minister.
The engagement provided a direct, on-the-ground view of how ICT devices move through informal and emerging formal systems, while offering practical insight into the ICT e-waste collection project implemented by the Uganda Communications Commission.
At Cornerstone Plaza, devices are repaired, dismantled, and repurposed. Technicians specialise in components such as batteries, circuit boards, cables, and screens. Equipment that can no longer function as a whole is broken down, with usable parts recovered to support repairs and refurbishment.
This ecosystem sustains a secondary market that improves access to affordable technology, particularly for students and low-income users. It also provides continuity, allowing devices to be repaired, upgraded, or exchanged over time.
However, the visit also highlighted a critical gap. Once all usable value has been extracted, remaining materials often fall into general waste streams. Electronic components contain hazardous substances that can contaminate soil and water and, if not properly managed, eventually enter the food chain.
The pilot project addresses this by introducing structured collection at the final stage of the lifecycle, alongside efforts to improve safety and awareness among technicians handling these materials.
Data security also emerged as a key concern. Many individuals and institutions are hesitant to release devices due to the risk of exposing sensitive information. In response, the Ministry is developing protocols for data sanitisation and traceability to ensure that devices are handled securely before entering reuse or recycling systems.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde emphasised the need for coordinated action across government, “ICT e-waste management requires a whole-of-government approach. The Office of the Prime Minister guides the national framework; the Ministry of ICT provides technical oversight and sector-specific standards, including data sanitisation; and the Ministry of Water and Environment ensures environmental compliance. The Ministry of Lands supports planning and land use, and the Ministry of Works supports logistics and infrastructure. Together, we are building a coordinated system across the full value chain.”
From an implementation perspective, the project is already generating practical solutions. A WhatsApp-based chatbot has been developed to connect users to e-waste collection services, improving convenience and participation.
Rebecca Mukite, ICT e-waste Project Lead at the Uganda Communications Commission, noted, “The pilot has shown that the repair and refurbishment ecosystem is the primary entry point for ICT devices leaving households. Our focus now is to strengthen that system, improve collection at the final stage, and build a model that is both scalable and commercially viable.”
The initiative also highlights the need to build local capacity. Currently, much of the high-value recycling takes place outside Uganda. Strengthening domestic capabilities in refurbishment and material recovery will allow the country to retain more value while creating jobs.
This work feeds into the broader national effort to develop a comprehensive waste management framework for urban areas. The direction is to enable existing systems, close critical gaps, and ensure that what cannot be reused is safely managed.
The visit to Cornerstone Plaza highlighted a clear reality. ICT e-waste is not simply a disposal issue. It is a value chain that supports livelihoods, expands access to technology, and presents an opportunity for sustainable economic growth if managed effectively.
Posts
0 Comments