The growing volume of e-waste in the East African Community (EAC) States has huge health and environmental risk to the region.
East Africa Communications Organisation (EACO) Executive Secretary Hodge Semakula said during a workshop on sustainable e-waste management in the East African Region that most of the policies in place are scattered among a number of agencies and government ministries that have little technical and financial capacities.
This comes in the wake of a rapid increase in use of information and communication technologies that has increased demand for electronic equipment such as mobile phones and computers.
Environmental experts warn that if not properly disposed, e-waste contains chemical substances that have adverse effects on the environment and human health.