Following the just concluded a high-level budget dialogue organized by the Uganda Manufacturers Association aimed at engaging key stakeholders in aligning the budget with national goals, by developing a competitive manufacturing sector, National Environment Management Authority has reacted positively by advising manufacturer’s to comply with Environment regulations so as to safe guard against the effects of environment degradation.
This was disclosed by NEMA’S Executive Director Dr Barirega Akankwasah who is asking manufacturer’s to conduct their business in a sustainable manner.
Currently Uganda’s Manufacturing sector is operating at only 53.4% of its installed capacity, signaling immense untapped potential, calling for need of concerted efforts to boost production, enhance value addition, and drive economic transformation.
How ever members of Uganda’s society have criticized the government and the Environment watchdog of doing less despite calls criticizing industrialists of degrading the environment by claiming water bodies,pollution and failure to treat industrial waste that in turn pollutes the environment.
The dialogue that precedes the budget reading in June, themed ” Full Monetization of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation, and Market Access,” has now pushed NEMA to raise a number of positive approaches to save guard the environment sustainably while the country industrializes.
Below are the extracts from Dr Barirega Akankwasah,the Executive Director National Environment Management Authority.
1. Cost Savings: Reduces operational expenses through energy efficiency and waste reduction.
2. Enhanced Brand Reputation: Attracts environmentally conscious consumers and builds customer loyalty.
3. Access to Capital: Increases opportunities for investment from ESG-focused investors.
4. Regulatory Compliance: Helps avoid penalties by staying ahead of environmental regulations.
5. Attracting Talent: Draws employees who value sustainability, improving morale and retention.
6. Innovation Opportunities: Encourages development of sustainable products and processes, creating market advantages.
7. Supply Chain Resilience: Builds more robust supply chains less vulnerable to disruptions.
8. Long-term Viability: Addresses resource scarcity and climate change, ensuring business sustainability.
9. Risk Management: Mitigates risks associated with environmental and social issues.
10. Consumer Demand: Meets growing consumer demand for sustainable and ethically produced products.
What NEMA is doing to drive sustainability in manufacturing
1. Establishment of compliance assistance to drive proactive compliance
2. Environment and social impact assessment
3. Annual Environment auditing
4. Automation of all environment compliance processes to improve efficiency and eliminate paper and delays
5. Partnering with UMA and PSFU to drive voluntary compliance
6. Use of administrative fines as opposed to litigation
7. Restoration of ecosystems
8. Continuous awareness creation
9. Enabling policy and regulatory framework eg air quality standards, noise standards, biodiversity offset guidelines etc