Although the National Environmental Management Authority(NEMA)  and Vivo Energy Uganda have launched a campaign aimed at sensitizing Ugandans about the dangers of using polythene bags dubbed,  “Tuve ku kaveera” (let’s stop using polythene bags), usage of polythene bags around Makerere University is still a rampant practice. This is clearly seen by many polythene bags used on a daily basis by a kiosk at Mary Stuart hall.

KAMPALA- There is still rampant us age of polythene bags around Makerere University despite the fact that a campaign against their usage has been launched by NEMA and Vivo Energy Uganda.

At Mary Stuart hall, polythene bags are used on a daily basis most commonly for packaging purposes. They are mainly used to pack sugar, bread, spaghetti, toilet papers to mention but a few.

’’I buy three packets of white polythene bags every day in sizes of nine and seven with each packet containing 200 polythene bags at a cost of Shs 2500 and Shs2000 respectively and they all get used up at the end of the day, ” Mr Justus Nabaasa, a canteen attendant at Mary Stuart hall remarked.

He was also able to tell me that even the black polythene bags that he buys in sizes of 15 and 22 get used up at the end of the day because the rate at which he uses them for packaging is high.

It was at this particular moment when he told me that he uses a relatively high number of polythene bags to pack different items for students who come to the canteen in large numbers daily from morning to evening “These normally buy fried Irish potatoes, chappatis, sausages ,doughnuts, bread and many more, ’’ Justus added.

He also showed me the fact that if polythene bags are not in place, his kiosk business gets so much affected because packaging gets a little bit difficult since he cannot sell edibles to customers using his bare hands. And as a matter of fact, this reduces the number of customers who come to the canteen to buy thereby affecting his income.

Relatedly, Mr. Hebert Ahereza, a canteen attendant at Mitchell hall whom I talked to briefly said that he uses one packet of white polythene bags in sizes of 7 and 9 for two days. He further added on that he uses two packets of black polythene bags of size 15 where each packet costs Shs3500 which last for a longer time because they are rarely used.

On the same note, Ms Harriet Ashaba, a canteen attendant at the faculty of arts canteen said that “our rate of using polythene bags varies because sometimes we have many customers who require to be packed for and sometimes these customers are few thereby making the rate of usage low’’ She also added on that, they use the white polythene bags a lot more compared to the black polythene bags. This is because, we have to pack for customer using the white polythene bags every time which is a different case when it comes to the black polythene bags unless someone is from far.

Although the usage of polythene bags a t Mary Stuart hall is relatively high, the government of Uganda has put a ban on them especially the 30 micron polythene bags. However, the policy has not been implemented. The failure to implement this policy has gone on for 9 solid years since 2009 when the government announced a total ban on importation, usage and the manufacture of the 30 micron polythene bags, a policy that the manufacturers defied to, arguing that their activities bring revenue for the government and create employment for the youths.

A person uses a plastic carrier bag on average for 12 minutes though they are a hazardous problem to the environment, animals and people’s health. This is in such a way that, they cause environmental degradation because when they are in the soil, they make the penetration of water difficult and therefore hardening the soil which is a challenge to crop growers. This results into famine. More so, eating food wrapped in ‘Kaveera’ exposes one to the risk of getting cancer.

Food sources such as vegetables, grains, fruits, fish can become contaminated by accumulating metals from being heated in polythene bags and yet the heavy metal exposure causes reduced growth, organ damage, nervous system damage and in extreme cases death.

Although the use of polythene bags might seem unavoidable and vital in our daily life, using the polythene bags more rampantly is rather harmful to both the environment and our health as shown in the story above. This can however be minimized through using other packaging materials thereby reducing the chances of people getting cancer.