STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGED ON WEALTH FROM WASTE PROJECT IN SOROTI CITY

 September 13, 2025   |    23 views

Stakeholders in Soroti City have been engaged to discuss the Wealth from Waste project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming waste management and creating employment opportunities. 

The engagement, held at Timisha Hotel in Soroti, was organized by the Global Forum for Development (GLOFORD) Uganda, a non-governmental organization based in Lira City.

The Wealth from Waste project, valued at 1 billion Ugandan shillings, commenced in June 2025 and is set to conclude in July 2026.

According to Francis Ediau, Environment Officer for Soroti City, the project aligns with the city’s policy of making wealth from waste. 

Ediau highlighted that Soroti City generates 150 tons of waste daily, with 74.8% being biodegradable, 24.1% non-waste, and 1.1% mixed waste on daily basis. 

He urged the community to view waste as a money-making opportunity rather than just dumping it.

Juliet Ipagi, Deputy Mayor of Soroti City, expressed her optimism that the project will restore Soroti’s reputation as one of the cleanest cities. 

She said that Soroti City has not been able to fully manage garbage collection due to shortage of garbage tracks.

Simon Okiring, Secretary for Works and Production, warned city dwellers against indiscriminate garbage dumping.

Judith Ruth Awor, Business Development Officer at GLOFORD Uganda, emphasized that the project’s goal is to empower those already in waste management to turn waste into a business, thereby creating jobs for the youth. 

“Our coming here to Soroti City is not to totally bring a new thing but to try to bring confidence to those who are already in the sector of waste management that we can actually translate waste to business and in turn help to employ our youth who are unemployed,” Awor said. 

The project aims to train youth to develop innovative products from organic and inorganic waste, promoting environmental sustainability and job creation.

The two year project which is currently operating in Lira City and Gulu City is set to be enrolled in Soroti City.

Joseph Okurut, Resident City Commissioner, welcomed the project, noting its timely intervention in addressing Soroti’s waste management crisis. 

“When I get more partners like you, I feel more comfortable because we are going to combine efforts to tackle the waste management crisis of the city,” Okurut stated. 

He attributed the city’s garbage littering issues to factors such as unplanned city status, rural population exposure, and corruption, calling for concerted efforts to educate the population on proper waste disposal

By Justine Ecakara