Kampala — The National Environment Management Authority has banned polyethylene carrier bags (buveera) and materials below 100 microns from its own premises.

Staff members and members of the public have since September 1st been forbidden from entering the Nema premises with the banned materials.

The government through Nema, banned importation, production and use of polyethylene carrier bags and materials of 30 microns and below with effect from July 2007.

"While efforts are underway to enforce the ban fully and also increase the thickness of banned materials to 100microns, Nema as the environmental watch dog of this country, need to live by example," the Executive Director Dr. Henry Aryamanya Mugisha wrote to all staff members in an internal memo dated on September 1. "This decision should be implemented with immediate effect" Dr Aryamanya added in his directive.