By Johnstone Baguma & Kellen Kanyunyuzi:

Urban waste management is one of the most straining  challenges for Uganda’s emerging  cities. In Jinja City, it has become even more real. To address this, the SafiSiti Smart Waste Management System by the DataCities Initiative (ToroDev, Sunbird AI and UNGP) is piloted to introduce digital tracking through QR codes and real-time dashboards. This policy paper argues that while the piloting is currently improving waste data generation, analysis and use for accountability, urban environmental conservation and circular economy development, long-term sustainability requires a transition from a digital technology deterministic intervention to an integrated urban waste governance framework. The proposed reform agenda focuses on contextualizing and institutionalizing digital tools, upgrading physical infrastructure like waste weighbridges, and professionalizing the private sector through a phased compliance approach to meet National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) requirements. Read more