National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for Uganda
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REPUBLIC OF UGANDA National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants for Uganda December 2008 Foreword This National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a major undertaking by the government of Uganda to eliminate and minimise the impacts of (twelve) 12 of the most harmful hazardous chemicals in the world. The worldwide concern over POPs was consolidated in a treaty on the 22nd May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden. Uganda acceded to the Convention on the 20th July 2004, and is obligated, under Article 7, to develop a NIP for managing the POPs. The 12 POPs that are targeted are Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Persistent Organic Pesticides which consist of DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Chlordane, Heptachlor, Mirex, Toxaphene and Hexachloro-Benzene; and Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants: Polychlorinated Dioxins and Polychlorinated Furans. The Convention proposes that PCBs production be prohibited and elimination by 2025; that action be taken to minimise release of dioxins and furans; and that all persistent organic pesticides be banned, with the exception of DDT which may be used in a strict regime for health purposes in disease vector control only and that actions is taken to develop more cost-effective and safe alternatives to replace DDT. For Uganda the process of developing the NIP started in 2005 under the Project on enabling activities for implementing the Stockholm Convention which is funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with technical oversight from the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP). The project consisted of a five phases:(i) establishing a coordination mechanism and process organisations; (ii) establishment of POPs inventories and assessment of national infrastructure and capacity; (iii) priority setting and objective setting; (iv) formulation of the NIP; and (v) endorsement and submission of the NIP. NEMA was the executing agency for the project and it was supported by stakeholders from government and non-governmental agencies and the private sector. The multi-institutional National Coordination Committee (NCC) for the project consisted of representatives from Makerere University, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (MTTI), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), Uganda Revenue authority (URA), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL), Uganda Cleaner Production Centre (UCPC), and Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA). It is important to note that the management of POPs extends to day to day activities of ordinary households and industry. For example, Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants are produced from open burning of waste containing chlorine element such as plastics polythene bags, paints and oils; industrial combustion at low temperatures often generates dioxins and furans. Similarly, ignorance of handling of transformer oils is suspected be the leading cause of cross contamination and proliferation of PCBs in the country. Recently, the government embarked on an Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) programme for malaria vector control using DDT. And while there is considerable i international consensus that using DDT is a cost-effective means of controlling malaria, stakeholders have concerns about potential risk to their livelihoods, health and the environment. Therefore, this NIP comes at such a time when a comprehensive and widely accepted plan is needed to sustainably manage through minimisation or elimination of the use and proliferation of POPs and POPs-related substances in the country. Finally, this NIP provides a means of balancing the country’s development priorities, human welfare, environmental and socio-economic concerns in the management of persistent organic pollutants and compliance with national law and the Stockholm convention. I congratulate all the stakeholders involved in developing this NIP for the work done and I assure them of the government’s commitment to support them during its implementation. It is my great hope that this NIP meets the expectation of the average Ugandan citizen and the support of all stakeholders who will be involved in its implementation. .......................................................... Hon. Maria Mutagamba Minister of Water and Environment ii Acknowledgements The Government of Uganda through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and its stakeholders has developed this NIP for the management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the country. POPs are prevalent, are often produced unintentionally and have proliferated throughout the country. This is largely because, prior to the Stockholm Convention, there was no formally organised mechanism of comprehensively addressing the concerns over these chemicals. As such the NIP provides a platform for comprehensively implementing the Stockholm Convention and minimising and in some cases entirely eliminating the risks posed by these extremely dangerous chemicals. Uganda’s NIP has been developed through a strong multi-stakeholder and consultative process with government ministries, academic institutions, researchers, private sector and non-governmental organisations. On behalf of NEMA I wish to extend my gratitude to all the stakeholders for their commitment. The following individuals and institutions are especially noted for their contributions as members of the National Coordination Committee: 1. Prof. Bernard Kiremire – Makerere University, Chemistry Department. 2. Dr. Agaba Friday – Ministry of Health. 3. John Othieno – Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited. 4. Robert Mawanda – Uganda Manufacturers Association. 5. Dr. F. M. Nsubuga – Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development. 6. Stephen Byantwale – Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. 7. Julius Oboth – Uganda Revenue Authority. 8. Silver Ssebagala – the Uganda Cleaner Production Centre. 9. Martin Imalingat – Uganda National Bureau of Standards. 10. Angela Rwabutomize- Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED) 11. Pauline Akiidi- Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED) 12. Eliphazi Bazira-Ministry of Water and Environment 13. C.J.Oullo- Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (MTTI) 14. Florence Adong-Water Resources Management Department 15. Timothy Byakola-Climate and Development Initiative (CDI) 16. Dr. Aryamanya-Mugisha Henry, Dr. Gerald Sawula, Eugene Muramira, Patrick Kamanda, Christine Kasedde, Christine Akello, Margret Aanyu, Evaristo Byekwaso, and Enid Turyahikayo – National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). iii NEMA extends its appreciation to the following institutions for their participation in the inventories, priority setting and action planning for the NIP. 1. The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) 2. The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) 3. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJ&CA) 4. The Ministry of Health (MoH) 5. The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) 6. Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry (MTTI) 7. Ministry of Internal Affairs 8. The Meteorology Department 9. The National Planning Authority (NPA) 10. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) 11. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) 12. Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) 13. The National Forest Authority (NFA) 14. The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) 15. Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. 16. Luwero Industries, Ministry of Defence (MoD) 17. Makerere University Departments of Chemistry and Public Health 18. Kasese District Council 19. Kampala City Council (KCC) 20. Uganda Environment Education Foundation (UEEF) 21. Climate and Development Initiatives (CDI) 22. Urban Environment Uganda (UEU) 23. The National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) 24. Pro-Biodiversity Conservationists 25. UMEME Ltd 26. Eskom (U) Ltd 27. Kinyara Sugar Works Ltd. 28. Kakira Sugar Works (1985) Ltd. 29. Research Triangle International (RTI) 30. Balton (U) Ltd. 31. Agro-systems Consult 32. ENR Africa Associates Ltd. NEMA is also grateful for the efforts of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), which consisted of Patrick Kamanda, Christine Kasedde and Enid Turyahikayo and the various iv resource persons Michael Mueller, Roland Weber, John Vijgen, Hans de Kruijf, Dr. David Ogaram and Moses Masiga. Finally, NEMA thanks its partners UNEP, GEF and UNITAR, and the facilitating government agencies (MFPED and MWE) for their support towards the development of the NIP. ................................................. Dr. Henry Aryamanya-Mugisha Executive Director - NEMA v Table of Contents Foreword.............................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................