A Delicate Reconciliation

Investment in plastic bags is a global issue as modernization, economic growth and nation buildings are processes engineering environmental damage. Ugandans use plastics in myriad ways and it is becoming hard to de-associate lifestyles from such bags. The Government, business community and people have embraced their use; focusing less on their substantial environmental impacts. Soil infertility, animal deaths, marine life entanglements, country's scenery, floods, diseases like cancers, skin and endocrinal damages - all stem from plastic bags use. The less knowledge about plastic bags impacts coupled with continuous bickering among government departments - NEMA, Ministry of Finance, URA, UMA and the lack of national policy on plastic regulation has significantly affected the environment. The Equilibrium lies in sensitizing the public and negotiate lifestyles alternatives, enforce the Polluter and customer Pays Principles, encourage re-usable materials like cloths and sisal, support and promote recycling programs through incentives giving, and bench-marking other countries good practices. These; can ONLY be achieved with a strong National policy on plastic bags regulation in Uganda.