Shadow minister for water and environment Beatrice Anywar has
challenged government to come out with an explanation as to why the
ban on use of kaveera up to now has never been implemented.
Anywar says whereas in the 2009/10 budget, finance minister announced
that the government would impose a total ban on plastic bags in order
protect the environment, this ban up to now has not yet been
implemented.
She adds that government went ahead and imposed a 120% tax on kaveera
and other plastics but these continue to be used in Uganda without any
explanation.
Anywar adds that in a high court ruling against attorney general/NEMA
by Greenwatch in October 2012, the judge Eldad Mwangusya declared that
the manufacture, distribution, use, sale, disposal or plastic bags,
plastic containers, plastic food wrappers and all other forms of
plastic commonly referred to as kaveera violated the rights of
citizens of Uganda to a clean and healthy environment.
She says despite all these commitments, and existence of this
judgment, regulations, bans and taxes, the kaveera continue to be used
in Uganda and government is not doing anything claiming that it get
revenue from polythen bags’ industries.