Uganda is dwelling to in excess of 1,8 million refugees, generating it one particular of the prime 5 internet hosting nations in the globe. The 48 refugee settlements in the nation are primarily overpopulated and they exist in places encountering the worst types of environmental degradation.
Escalating up in the Kyaka II Settlement, Ronald Mugaiga expert the effects initially-hand, to the point of contracting cholera when he was youthful. This remaining him with a very little possibility of survival but today, he is the founder of Ecomak Recyclers, a startup that is constructed to increase waste management across refugee settlements, persuade community enterprises to have a extra sustainable lifestyle, and encourage the circular overall economy.
Our mission is to enable the community by turning squander into reusable development resources, Mugaiga claims.
Ecomak has formulated a chemical-totally free and vitality-preserving exclusion engineering called organo-technological know-how that aids to enhance the melting course of action of plastic when retaining the actual physical parameters of the plastic. The plastic is then employed to make bricks and blocks.
The bricks are two situations stronger than standard bricks, notes Mugaiga. They have zero breakages the moment used and they are extensive-long lasting and resilient.
The most compelling price proposition for the use of Ecomak bricks is the truth that the bricks are 30% less costly than classic bricks. Actual estate and design companies are the startups greatest buyers.There is a 700 million greenback construction market in Uganda. Ecomak intends to capture just 1% of this enormous marketplace in the next 5 yrs.
Our target is to capture marketplaces in most of Uganda in the up coming year and increase to the relaxation of East Africa in 2-3 yrs, says Ronald.
Ecomak has developed over 100 work for underserved females and youths in the communities of Kyaka II refugee settlement. While enhancing incomes by way of the exchange of plastic waste for hard cash, they have managed to obtain and recycle in excess of 30 tons of squander per thirty day period. The affect the company is building on a poverty alleviation and environmental degree is unparalleled and the environment will absolutely be improved because of it!