Kampala — ALTHOUGH Uganda has outlawed the importation of old computers, freezers and refrigerators in the 2009/2010 financial year, it lacks the capacity to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has said.

"We are now working on a mechanism to see how these old computers can be retrieved from the institutions that are using them and maybe put in one place. They can then be either dismantled or shipped to countries with the capacity to recycle them," said Aryamanya-Mugisha, NEMA's executive director.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday at NEMA offices in Kampala, Mugisha observed that Uganda is a co-chair of ongoing international negotiation efforts on management of mercury as a heavy metal.

"The mercury in Uganda is mainly in energy saving bulbs and gold. We want to know how much mercury we have, where it is and the expiry period of the items we have. This will help us find ways of disposing of it.

Mugisha noted that NEMA was carrying out a study on the management of chemicals and heavy metals. This will enable the Government to come out with guidelines on proper disposal. Old computers and other electronic appliances contain heavy metals like lead and antimony which are dangerous to the environment.

He also warned against the importation of "extremely old" mobile phones which stop working only after they have been used for a short time.

"These have components, some of which if left in the open, are toxic. They can cause diseases like cancer," Mugisha said.