Telecom Giant Partners on E-Waste Recycling Project in Uganda

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Leading African telecom firm MTN and College of Engineering Design Art and Technology (CEDAT) of the Makerere University have announced partnership to jointly work on proper disposal and recycling of electronic waste in Uganda. The partners will collaborate on repurposing e-waste products for new use, thus promoting efforts to protect the environment.

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As per ICT Ministry data, Uganda generated around 17,000 tons of e-waste in 2018. The highest number of ICT equipment is owned by government, followed by non-governmental organizations, large enterprises and private households. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and others own only around 5% share of the total ICT equipment.

The government institutions lack an organised system to dispose of and recycle obsolete ICT equipment. Huge stashes of discarded electronics are found in private sector as well as households. The partnership is aimed at betterment of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESGs), said Eng. Dorothy Okello, Dean at School of Engineering at Makerere.

MTN had recently donated revamped electronic items, as part of efforts to boost ICT access and literacy in rural secondary schools.

Uganda has an e-waste Management Policy in place, which aims to promote safe management of electronic waste in the country.