In the heart of Uganda, where climate change is severely impacting agricultural livelihoods, a young tech entrepreneur is driving a revolution in waste management. Martin Tumusiime, a 25-year-old Ugandan, is not only the CEO and Co-Founder of Yo-Waste, but also a visionary determined to tackle one of the country’s most pressing environmental challenges. Uganda, a country where 70% of the working population relies on agriculture, is grappling with the adverse effects of climate change. Despite 80% of its land being arable, only 35% is currently cultivated. Severe floods, particularly in Kampala, exacerbate the challenges, making the city unsafe and contributing to widespread environmental degradation.
Born in Hoima and later relocating to Kampala, Tumusiime’s journey from a university student to a CEO began with his personal experiences of waste mismanagement in urban areas. Seeing the struggle households and businesses endured to dispose of their waste, Martin and four of his friends, all with a background in computer science, decided to develop a tech-based solution that could transform waste management in Uganda. The result was Yo-Waste, a mobile application that connects garbage generators with local waste collectors, providing a streamlined, eco-friendly way to manage and dispose of waste.
Realising that improper waste disposal was a significant contributor to these problems, Martin set out to create a solution that would not only address waste management but also contribute to climate change mitigation. The Yo-Waste app, often dubbed the “Uber for waste,” was initially a student project at Makerere University in 2019/2020. With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project received the necessary funding for research and testing. By 2020, Yo-Waste was ready for a broader rollout, and today, it connects over 1,000 households in Kampala and Entebbe to local waste collectors.
The app’s success lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. Users can download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and within minutes, they can arrange for their waste to be collected and disposed of properly. The app utilises GPS technology to pinpoint collection points, overcoming the challenge of informal residential areas lacking official addresses. Moreover, routing and scheduling algorithms optimise the collection process, reducing costs and improving efficiency. In Entebbe municipality alone, more than 1,000 households use Yo-Waste daily, helping to manage and safely dispose of over 10.5 tons of municipal solid waste.
Yo-Waste’s impact extends far beyond waste management. The company directly contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 13 (climate action). The company’s commitment to sustainability is also evident in its partnerships. Yo-Waste collaborates with over 30 local waste collectors, who service more than 10,000 households. The company also provides specialised services for hazardous medical waste, as well as solutions for recycling at home, hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. These efforts are particularly important in a country where the Kiteezi landfill, Uganda’s only landfill, is under severe strain.
The company now employs 32 full-time workers, many of whom might not have had formal education. By providing these individuals with stable incomes, Yo-Waste is helping to advance SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and improve the livelihoods of numerous families. Looking to the future, Martin Tumusiime has ambitious plans for Yo-Waste. The company currently serves over 1,500 customers, and its goal is to reach 20,000 users by 2026. With 40% of waste in Africa still improperly disposed of, Yo-Waste’s innovative approach has the potential to make a significant impact on environmental pollution and public health across the continent.
