Uganda’s climate ambition under the Paris Agreement, as reflected in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), includes an economy-wide mitigation target by 2030 of a 24.7% reduction compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Multiple priority sectors were identified to achieve this target through sector-specific mitigation policies and measures. Two of these sectors were transport and waste.

The NDCs put forward several measures to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions in the two sectors, from increased use of mass transit to more efficient waste management systems. 

Through the systematic collection and analysis of data, Uganda could measure the results of its climate action and ascertain that the implemented transport and waste measures were bringing the country closer to its targets.

In this context, Uganda partnered with the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), taking a decisive step toward data-based monitoring of climate action progress. By developing and operationalizing robust sectoral frameworks for measuring progress in transport and waste, Uganda significantly enhanced the national transparency systems, opening the road for systematic improvement of climate policies and measures.

Photo: MehmetO / Shutterstock, View over the central bus station in Kampala, Uganda, 2019

Strengthening sectoral climate action through transparency

To build sectoral tracking frameworks, Uganda started with the actions foreseen in the NDCs and their respective indicators. For the transport sector, these included promoting non-motorized transport, enforcing fuel economy standards, introducing vehicle import restrictions, and more. In the waste sector, key interventions included improved solid waste and wastewater management, methane capture from organic waste, and others.

The tracking frameworks expanded the NDC list of indicators with new indicators defined based on international best practices, stakeholder input, and other related projects. Efforts were made to ensure that the performance indicators incorporated in the frameworks were Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART). The SMART approach ensured that each indicator was clearly defined, quantifiable, realistic, aligned with climate goals, and trackable within a set timeframe.

With the indicators in place, the next step focused on data collection. The national team defined the data sources and data collection methods for each indicator, as well as the proposed data collectors and custodians. The team then examined the available datasets and the feasibility of data collection in consultation with sectoral stakeholders. Standardized templates for data collection and indicator reporting were then developed, with fields for custodian information, methodology notes, reporting periods, and measurement units. After project validation, Excel formulas were added to automate calculations, improve accuracy, and reduce human error in tracking NDC actions.

This data enables Uganda to confidently monitor progress against its NDC targets, supporting regular reporting on the national level, as well as international reporting under the Paris Agreement. It can also guide decision-making, helping to scale up successful measures and adjust strategies to progressively strengthen sectoral climate action.

Photo: NDC tracking framework training workshop, Entebbe, September 2024

Embedding transparency in policy, institutions, and practice

When developing the NDC tracking frameworks, the national team ensured that they were aligned with Uganda’s priorities for climate action and development. They were aligned, for example, with Uganda’s NDC Implementation and Resource Mobilisation Plan, the National Development Plan, and sector-specific policies such as the National Transport and Logistics Policy. 

In this way, transparency could be embedded within Uganda’s national development and climate architecture, supported by a strong institutional framework led by the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the National Planning Authority.

A roadmap for the full implementation of the tracking framework outlined key data sources, gaps, and institutional roles in the transport and waste sectors. Its development involved a consultative process, through which sector stakeholders reviewed the roadmap, tracking framework, data templates and indicators, identified gaps in data and institutional arrangements, and proposed practical solutions to strengthen NDC tracking and implementation.

Capacity-building and training sessions encouraged institutional uptake and operational readiness across relevant government bodies. Data providers and stakeholders of both sectors took part in workshops and were trained in the use of the NDC tracking framework and the new data collection templates. Purpose-driven stakeholder engagement fostered ownership and enthusiasm. Sector representatives welcomed the NDC tracking framework and tools, noting their demand-driven design and effective contribution to reporting needs.

Photo: Participants of the ICAT validation workshop, Entebbe, November 2024

A blueprint for scaling up mitigation across sectors

Through this effort, Uganda achieved a milestone in the national climate transparency efforts. Having successfully developed operational frameworks for tracking its greenhouse gas emissions and climate actions in the two sectors, the country paved the way for a data-based approach to strengthening mitigation action.

The process of developing sectoral NDC tracking frameworks and the information that these frameworks can provide enables ministries to take full ownership of their climate goals and responsibilities. Precise and timely information on progress and gaps can help decision-makers make evidence-based adjustments to policies and measures, strengthening their capacity to prioritise the most effective low-carbon solutions for their sectors. 

The frameworks established for transport and waste offer a strong foundation for expansion to other NDC priority sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and other land use, stationary energy, and industrial processes and product use. This could pave the way for an economy-wide NDC tracking system to accelerate climate progress across Uganda. By embedding transparency into sectoral decision-making, Uganda can drive a systematic shift toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient development and transformation of the national economy.

Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment partnered with the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) to achieve the results presented in this article. Uganda’s national project team received support from international climate experts from ICAT’s implementing partner, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute. Transparency tools from the ICAT toolbox were used to implement the project activities, including the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Model (GACMO).