NEMA Grants 30-Day Grace Period for all Vehicles to Have Dustbins

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has suspended for 30 days, the planned enforcement of a requirement for all vehicles to have dustbins.

Deferral of implementation followed a meeting between the National Environment Management Authority and the leadership of the public transporters.

According to a press statement issued by NEMA Executive director, Dr Barirega Akankwasah, the public transporters federation led by their Chairperson, Rashid Ssekindi, requested additional time to install the dustbins in their cars, to which a 30-day grace period starting April 1, 2023, was granted.

“We have accordingly given them a grace period of 30 days to enable them to install the bags/bins to prevent littering from public transport vehicles. The enforcement teams are hereby notified accordingly that nobody should be arrested or fined for not having a trash/bag during this grace period of 30 days starting 1^st April 2023,” Dr Barirega stated.

He added: “Hoeverwer, during the grace period, public vehicles or private vehicles found littering will be impounded and owners prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

On 8th February 2023, NEMA announced plans to enforce provisions of the National Environment Act, 2019 and various regulations in relation to various offences including developments without Environment and Social Impact Assessment, Failure to conduct Environment Audits, breach of conditions of NEMA certificates, littering, noise, encroachment of wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores, pollution, plastics below 30  microns, among others.

Implementation encompasses sensitization and awareness through outreach, arrest and prosecution of offenders and issuance of administrative fines pursuant to section 172 of the National Environment Act, 2019.