Uganda National Environment Management Authority – Improve Air Quality

 The Uganda National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Air Quality Fellowship includes development of National Air Quality Regulations, training and outreach. Ms. Amy Zimpfer, P.E., has been matched with the Uganda NEMA project team under the direction of Dr. Tom Okurut, Executive Director of NEMA, and Ms. Christine Akello, Deputy Executive Director and staffed by Jennifer Kutesakwe, Senior Environment Inspector. [Note: Dr. Okurut and Ms. Akello have since left NEMA.] As Uganda’s population grows, air pollution from industrial activities, vehicles, construction, and other sources is increasing. As directed in the National Environment Act of 2019, Uganda-NEMA has developed Draft National Air Quality Regulations that will establish national ambient air quality standards and comprehensive air pollution mitigation programs. Ms. Zimpfer is providing technical assistance throughout this process as Uganda-NEMA finalizes the National Air Quality Regulations and associated emission standards, licensing provisions, air quality management planning, monitoring and other requirements. NEMA is building consensus across multiple Ugandan stakeholder groups and the public as they move to adopt the final air quality regulations by the end of 2021.

The Uganda NEMA Fellowship kick-off meeting was in December 2019, with in-country assistance planned for Spring 2020. However, with the coronavirus pandemic restrictions beginning in March 2020, the fellowship pivoted to a fully remote format with extensive meetings and trainings via Zoom and other electronic means. The Fellowship period is scheduled to extend to mid-2022, with the possibility of one in-country visit.

High Level Goal 1: Develop final air quality regulation and air quality standards in Uganda to mitigate air pollution

• Review the Draft National Air Quality Regulations and compare with international and African norms and standards.
• Research appropriate and applicable air quality regulations and standards for use by technical work group.
• Hold technical work group meetings at 12 times/year or more.
• Recommend strategic approaches to modifying the draft regulations and air quality standards.

High Level Goal 2: Develop the capacity for air quality management in Uganda

• Provide global air quality management training to NEMA and other Ugandan air pollution professionals.
• Provide air pollution permitting training to NEMA and other air pollution professionals.
• Facilitate Ugandan engagement with international non-governmental and aide organizations.

High Level Goal 3: Provide outreach and communication

• Provide technical information to industry stakeholders.
• Participate in public outreach events such as international Air Quality Awareness Week, public meetings and other fora.
• Communicate via publications such as news outlets, social media, etc.

In addition to the lead agency Uganda NEMA, other Ugandan groups that participate in the air quality project include Uganda Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), AirQo and Makerere University, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Uganda Manufacturers Association, and others.

Ms. Zimpfer actively supports the Air Quality Regulations Team established by NEMA to refine and amend the Uganda Draft National Air Quality Regulations for adoption. The Team includes air pollution scientists and engineers from NEMA, KCCA, academia, and other government and professional institutions. It meets via Zoom several times each month, with additional smaller working group meetings held on specific issues. Ms. Zimpfer regularly prepares for and participates in Team and small work group sessions, providing recommendations on ambient air quality standards, emission control performance standards, licensing and permitting, compliance and monitoring programs, and approaches to air quality planning. She provides training on air quality management, permitting, and emissions controls. Ms. Zimpfer also engages in outreach through events such as International Air Quality Awareness Week, and seeks collaboration with international organizations such as the World Bank, World Health Organizations and others.

The Uganda Draft National Air Quality Regulations include a series of 17 regulatory schedules that will establish national ambient air quality standards and emission limits for industrial, mobile, and other pollution sources. The Uganda-NEMA Air Quality Regulations Team began with a review of Schedule 2 (Ambient Air Quality Standards for Criteria Air Pollutants, averaging period and concentration limits), and the group has reached consensus on a draft set of health protective ambient air quality standards, building on WHO ambient air quality standards guidelines, U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards, East African air quality standards, and others. The group turned next to Schedule 3 (Priority Air Pollutants, for each emission source type and industry sectors), Schedule 4 (Stationary/Point Source Maximum Permissible Emissions Limits, for criteria pollutants, hydrocarbons, pesticides, etc.), Schedule 5 (Vehicle Standards), and Schedule 6 (Industrial Sector Standards). The Team has clarified the purpose of each schedule as laid out in the draft Regulations and is drafting practical health-based approaches that can be implemented by NEMA and others and will result in better air pollution management. The Team evaluated each pollutant, the units of measure, the magnitude of the emission limit, type of emission source, and practicalities of implementation. The Team compared the standards and regulations to the limits and approaches (e.g., performance base emission standards vs. numeric limits) set in other countries to give a basis of understanding for the range of values internationally, thus informing decisions for the Uganda standards and regulations ultimately to be adopted. A similar approach is being taken on all the schedules.

2020 Technical Training Sessions  

• Air Quality Science, Air Quality Standards, and Air Quality Management – presented in collaboration with Dr. Anondo Mukherjee (Air Quality Fellow working with KCCA)
• Stationary Source Air Emissions Control in the United States, New and Existing Sources and applicability to Ugandan permitting
• Fellow’s comments on Ugandan Draft Air Quality Regulations
• Vehicle Emission Standards and Programs: Additional Information Sources

2021 Technical Training Sessions  

• Introduction to Oil and Gas Production and Stationary Source Permitting
• Comparison of Draft Emission Standards for Oil and Gas and for Petroleum Refineries from Schedule 3 of the draft Ugandan Air Quality Regulations, with U.S. National Emission Standards.
• World Bank’s Open Learning Campus’ Introduction to Air Quality Management, in collaboration with Nigerian air quality professionals

NOTE: In addition to these listed sessions, Ms. Zimpfer has provided several comments and technical resource papers on various aspects of the draft Regulations including air quality standards, motor vehicle regulation, and stationary source controls.

Across the larger Fellowship program, Ms. Zimpfer and Dr. Mukherjee (see Overview of Uganda Kampala Capital City - Improve Air Quality), the two Fellows who are working in Uganda, hold periodic coordination meetings to jointly discuss their respective projects. Collaborative sessions have also been held with other AQ Fellows serving in Ghana and Indonesia. As an additional synergy-building effort, the Uganda-KCCA team are invited to participate in all Uganda-NEMA training sessions, and the Fellow for Uganda-KCCA also participates in the NEMA meetings and training sessions.