Page 19 - July - Sept 2022 Edition

UNIQUELY UGANDAN UPCYCLING
Article & Images by Dr. Nathaniel Dunigan
Five affordable ways to support our environment and our communities
Sometimes, upcycling and recycling seem elusive and
expensive, but highlighted here are five Ugandan products
which are affordable, practical, and useful in everyday life.
Whether you’d like to purchase the items, or donate the
materials used in making them, contact information is included
for each upcycler.
GLASS COVERS (PLASTICS)
Often marketed as coasters, I find these even more useful as
glass- and mug-covers to keep insects out while I enjoy
Uganda’s amazing outdoors! Made entirely of recycled plastics,
these colourful discs add fun and purpose to any table-setting
or sundowner-gathering. They don’t easily blow off as
cardboard-covers do, and they are more durable and washable
than net-covers. They are sold at various retail outlets, and are
made by:
Just two of the paper bag Takataka Plastics +256 780 177969 / +256 784 393850.
sizes available
@TakatakaPlastics (f)
SANITARY PADS (OFFICE PAPER)
While there are many ways to recycle and upcycle newspaper,
the paper we all use in our offices and schools has fewer
options for reuse. This project is fulfilling so many important
needs by turning such paper into sanitary pads.
MakaPads +256 393 228112 / +256 789 602619.
BOX BASKETS (BINDING STRAPS)
Made from reused packaging/binding straps, these colourful
and ingenious baskets with lids and carrying handles are
perfect for lunches and picnics, gift-hampers, extra storage,
and more. They, too, come in a variety of sizes.
WhatsApp: +211 921 780624 / +256 752 248400.
Lidded box-baskets made from PAPER BAGS (OFFICE PAPER)
binding straps These bags are extremely affordable (literally almost free).
They are made from paper collected from various government
and business offices around Kampala—not recycled, but
upcycled—so the documents’ contents are still legible on the
final products. Frequently used by chapatti-street-food-ven-
dors, they are also a good substitute for envelopes, sharing
loose change, protecting boda deliveries, packing lunches, and
wrapping fragile items. And they provide some interesting
reading material as you ask yourself about the context of the
text on your bag (available in several sizes). Many different
groups make these bags. Two contacts:
Mukasa +256 759 499840 / Juliet +256 774 643290
CUT GLASSES (WINE BOTTLES)
I think these are perhaps the most commonly upcycled item in
Uganda at the moment. Very affordable, quite strong, and
available in a variety of sizes and colours.
Two of the upcyclers making these glasses are:
Good Glass in Kampala +256 775 360 067. @GoodGlassUg (f).
Upcycled plastic cover on a The AidChild Leadership Institute in Entebbe +256 777 445 810.
cut glass @AidChild (f).

17