Air Quality Spotlight: Kampala, Uganda most polluted major city – IQAir

Air Quality Status in Kampala and Implications for Sustainable Development

Current Air Quality Assessment

As of July 29, 2025, the air quality in Kampala, Uganda, is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups. This status indicates a significant public health risk, directly challenging the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The city’s ambient air consistently contains PM2.5 concentrations that exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual guideline of 5 μg/m³, posing a persistent threat to the health of its residents.

This ongoing environmental stressor undermines progress towards SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The failure to maintain clean air highlights a critical gap in urban environmental management.

Key Drivers of Air Pollution in Kampala

The primary sources of air pollution in Kampala are linked to rapid, and often unregulated, urbanization and industrial expansion. These drivers create significant obstacles to meeting several Sustainable Development Goals.

Contributing Factors

• Vehicular Emissions: A surge in vehicle ownership, coupled with an aging fleet and severe traffic congestion, results in high levels of pollutant emissions. This directly contravenes the objectives of SDG 11.2, which calls for safe and sustainable transport systems, and SDG 3.9, which aims to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and pollution.
• Industrial Activities: Emissions from factories, power plants, and newly established industrial zones contribute substantially to air pollution. This points to a need for greater alignment with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting cleaner and more sustainable industrial processes.
• Biomass and Waste Burning: Widespread reliance on biomass fuels like wood and charcoal for household energy, along with the open burning of municipal waste, releases harmful particulate matter. This practice conflicts with targets for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11.6, which focuses on improving municipal waste management and reducing the environmental impact of cities.
• Infrastructure Deficits: Dust from a large network of unpaved roads and extensive construction activities significantly elevates PM2.5 levels. Addressing this requires investment in sustainable infrastructure, a core component of SDG 9.

Mitigation Efforts and Policy Responses Aligned with SDGs

In response to the air quality crisis, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has initiated several measures that align with the Sustainable Development Goals framework.

Monitoring and Public Awareness

The deployment of over 65 air quality monitors across the city represents a crucial step in data collection for evidence-based policymaking, supporting the targets of SDG 11. Public awareness campaigns, such as #KampalaBreathes, are vital for engaging the community and promoting behavioral change, contributing to both SDG 3 and SDG 11.

Strategic Interventions

The Kampala Clean Air Action Plan provides a strategic framework for tackling air pollution, directly addressing the mandate of SDG 11.6 to improve urban air quality. Initiatives within this plan include:

1. The development of comprehensive emission inventories to identify and regulate pollution sources.
2. The implementation of car-free days to promote sustainable transport and reduce vehicular emissions, supporting SDG 11.2 and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

These initiatives reflect a multi-stakeholder approach, essential for achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by coordinating efforts between government, the private sector, and civil society to create a healthier, more sustainable urban environment.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses health by stating that the air quality in Kampala is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and that PM2.5 levels exceed WHO guidelines, which are set to protect human health.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The entire article focuses on a major urban issue in Kampala—air pollution. It discusses the causes, such as rapid urbanization, vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and waste management, all of which are central to the sustainability of cities.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article identifies “household use of wood and charcoal” as a key source of pollution. This points to a lack of access to clean and modern energy sources for cooking and heating, which is a core concern of SDG 7.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article’s central theme is the poor air quality in Kampala, described as “unhealthy,” which directly relates to illnesses caused by air pollution. The mention of PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO safety guidelines underscores the health risks addressed by this target.
2. Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The article is a case study of this target. It focuses on Kampala’s poor air quality and identifies sources like traffic, industry, and “open burning of garbage,” which directly correspond to the target’s focus on urban air quality and waste management.
3. Target 7.1: “By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.” The article’s mention of “household use of wood and charcoal” as a pollution source implies a reliance on biomass and inefficient fuels. This indicates a gap in access to clean energy, which this target aims to close.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 11.6.2: “Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).” The article explicitly mentions this indicator by stating that “PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 μg/m³.” The installation of over 65 air quality monitors by the KCCA is a direct effort to measure this indicator.
2. Indicator 7.1.2: “Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology.” This indicator is implied. The article states that “household use of wood and charcoal” is a key source of pollution. Measuring the shift away from these biomass fuels toward cleaner alternatives would be a way to track progress on this indicator and its impact on air quality.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iqair.com