Project overview
A proposed six-month community-led pilot supporting residents and local site users in Bukasa to prevent pollution, monitor priority waste and drainage hotspots, practise safer non-hazardous waste storage and handover, and engage local actors through documented environmental accountability processes. Implementation is subject to final grant approval and commencement arrangements. The proposed November 2026–April 2027 implementation period is indicative and remains subject to final grant approval, contracting, fund disbursement and CEMA’s authorised commencement date.
Problem being addressed
Residents of Bukasa have raised concerns about household and trading waste, litter and greywater around drainage corridors and wetland-edge access areas. During heavy rain, waste can be washed into drainage lines and low-lying spaces, affecting movement, hygiene and the local environment. Low-income households, women, youth, persons with disabilities and informal site users are among those most affected, yet they often lack a structured way to record concerns, monitor action and engage responsible actors.
Goal
To strengthen community-led pollution prevention and environmental accountability around selected drainage and wetland-edge access areas in Bukasa.
Objectives
- Establish a 25-member Community Environmental Accountability Team to map, monitor and follow up at least four priority pollution and drainage hotspots.
- Support at least 120 residents and local users to adopt safer non-hazardous waste storage, separation and handover practices, with 70 selected households receiving basic starter materials after a lawful collection or recovery route is verified.
- Strengthen environmental accountability through hotspot and waste logs, three joint verification walks, two community dialogue meetings and at least three documented referrals or service follow-ups.
Main activities
- Project inception and stakeholder engagement;
- Participatory baseline assessment and mapping of at least four priority hotspots;
- Formation and orientation of a 25-member Community Environmental Accountability Team;
- Four accessible practical sessions for residents and local site users;
- Verification of a lawful waste collection or recovery route;
- Distribution of basic starter packs to 70 selected households;
- Six scheduled non-hazardous waste handover or recovery cycles;
- Monthly hotspot monitoring and record review;
- Three joint verification walks;
- Two community review dialogues;
- Documentation of at least three referrals or service follow-ups;
- Endline review, asset handover and continuation planning.
Results and achievements
- MOHI’s application was shortlisted for the final evaluation stage of the CEMA Grassroots Climate Action Fund Climate Justice Small Grants Programme. Project implementation has not yet started, and no environmental or beneficiary results have been recorded.
Challenges
- Implementation depends on final funding approval, verification of a lawful and reliable waste collection or recovery route, safe access during periods of heavy rain, continued community participation and careful exclusion of hazardous, medical and electronic waste.
Lessons
- Project planning has shown that community pollution prevention must be linked to a verified lawful collection route, simple monitoring records, inclusive local leadership and regular follow-up rather than relying on one-off clean-up activities.
Sustainability approach
The Community Environmental Accountability Team will retain the hotspot maps, logbooks, guidance materials and weighing scale under a documented handover arrangement. The Team will continue reviewing local environmental concerns through existing community and local-leader structures and use agreed referral contacts to follow up pollution and service concerns. The project will leave practical skills, records and accountability links rather than create a permanently subsidised collection service.
