Kampala Capital City Authority has unveiled a five-year strategy to halve air pollution levels by 2030 through cleaner transport, expanded monitoring systems and stronger environmental regulations.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has announced plans to cut air pollution levels in the capital by 50% by 2030, as part of efforts to improve public health and create a cleaner urban environment.
The ambitious target will be pursued through expanded air quality monitoring, cleaner transport initiatives, increased public participation and strengthened environmental regulations.
Presenting “The Kampala Experience” at the Africa Clean Air Forum 2026 in Pretoria, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki said the city has significantly expanded its air quality monitoring network from its first sensors installed in 2018 to 134 monitoring stations providing real-time public data.
Buzeki said Kampala currently records average air pollution levels of 39 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) and is implementing the Kampala Clean Air Action Plan 2025–2030 to reduce pollution through improved monitoring, sustainable transport and community involvement.
She said the strategy is anchored on existing environmental and public health laws, alongside the proposed Kampala Air Quality Management Bill, which is expected to strengthen efforts to manage pollution.
Among the interventions highlighted are the introduction of cycling lanes, pedestrian walkways, electric buses and tax incentives aimed at encouraging the use of electric vehicles and motorcycles.
Buzeki also pointed to the establishment of a new traffic control centre designed to reduce congestion and lower vehicle emissions, which remain among the major contributors to urban air pollution.
She said community involvement has become a key component of Kampala’s clean air campaign, with residents participating in environmental clean-up exercises, journalists trained as clean air champions and Village Health Teams supporting air quality monitoring at community level.
“Pollution knows no borders,” Buzeki told delegates, calling for stronger regional cooperation, increased investment in real-time air quality data and integrated environmental management systems.
She said African cities must work together to address air pollution, which continues to affect communities beyond national boundaries.
Kampala’s efforts to improve air quality have received international recognition, with the city winning the National Environment Sustainability Award in June 2026, earning a nomination for the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation and becoming the first African city inducted into the International Network of Tree Cities.
The Africa Clean Air Forum 2026, which opened on Tuesday in Pretoria, has brought together policymakers, researchers and city leaders to discuss investments, partnerships and strategies aimed at improving air quality across the continent.
