Ugandans ignore plastic bag ban

Offenders risk a jail term of three years or a fine of up to $20,000

A ban on the use of thin plastic bags in Uganda for environmental reasons has been ignored despite coming into effect across the country.

A BBC correspondent in the capital, Kampala, says the bags are still on sale in the city.

Ugandan Finance Minister Ezra Suruma banned the import and use of the bags and imposed a 120% tax on thicker ones in this year's budget.

Offenders risk a jail term of three years or a fine of up to $20,000.

Uganda introduced the ban because of serious environmental concerns and difficulties in the disposal of plastic bags and plastic containers.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says the bags were in full display at the main Nakasero market and residents complained that the notice period given to sell off the bags was too short.

Ugandans also say they were not given enough warning about what alternative packaging materials they could use, our correspondent says.

But the spokesman for the National Environment Management Agency (Nema), Naomi Namara Karekaho, insists that adequate information has been communicated across the country.

Police in Uganda are expected to enforce the new environmentally friendly laws but so far no arrests have been made.

The ban on the use of plastic bags has also been imposed in Kenya but Finance Minister Amos Kimunya announced that it would not come into effect until January next year to allow manufacturers time to clear their stock.

Tanzania set the pace for the East African community in 2006 when Vice-President Ali Muhammad Shein announced a total ban on plastic bags and ordered a switch to recyclable or biodegradable alternatives.