Kampala/Masaka, Uganda, 5–8 October 2026 – Uganda and Italy launched a new bilateral cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening sustainable waste management in Uganda, with support from UNDP Rome Centre and UNDP Uganda. 

Approved by MASE and Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment in May 2026, the project entered its implementation phase in July. It originated in the strong relations between Italy and Uganda and in a clear commitment, at the highest political level, to address waste management as an urgent environmental, climate and public-health priority. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2023 between the two Ministries provided the operational framework for translating that commitment into action. 

The project is designed to support both policy and technical activities, combining institutional dialogue, policy analysis and engineering interventions to help improve waste management systems, with a particular focus on Masaka. 

From 5 to 8 October, representatives from UNDP Rome Centre and MASE visited Uganda to formally launch the initiative, engage with national and local institutions, and begin implementation on the ground. The programme brought together policymakers, technical experts and local authorities to discuss existing policy gaps, review preliminary technical recommendations and address the long-term sustainability of the planned interventions. 

In Kampala, the delegation took part in an inception and stakeholder engagement workshop and met with the Embassy of Italy, UNDP Uganda and senior representatives of key Ugandan institutions. 

Activities then moved to Masaka, where the project was officially launched on 8 October at Masaka City Council Hall. The launch was followed by a ceremony at the site identified for the construction of the waste treatment infrastructure, where representatives marked the start of implementation.