Vanessa Mulondo
Early in the morning, as the sun rises over Kampala, one can see a sort of haze hovering over the city. You might assume it is mist rising from the ground and trees, but it is heavy fog. This is evidence of the pollution that exists within the city, which affects the environment and the city’s residents. Kampala ranks among the world's most polluted cities. Around 28,000 Ugandans die prematurely each year as a result of air pollution. According to Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), the city’s air pollution is primarily caused by dust from unpaved roads, fumes from cars, and the uncontrolled burning of waste.
Vernon, my younger brother, is 15 years old. He suffers from breathing-related health issues, which bring on allergic reactions. At times it gets very serious and his breathing is affected so badly that he needs to use an inhaler or nebuliser. As a family, we have come to learn that the air we breathe has a great effect on Vernon’s health, and when we get out of the city and into the village for a couple of days it is clear how much his health improves. Vernon believes that air pollution needs to be reduced and that people should stop burning things that produce Carbon Monoxide. “I think we should really reduce how many trees we cut down as well because they help to clean up the air when it is polluted,” he says.
My family has learned the hard way the importance of being aware of what we produce and how it affects us and the environment. I believe that reducing the amount of air pollution in our environment begins with us as individual