Is the Air Quality Good in Kampala?
On September 2, 2025 1:10 AM PT, air quality in Kampala, Uganda, is considered unhealthy.
The air quality in Kampala is generally poor, with PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 μg/m³ for annual average concentrations. In 2024, the city’s average PM2.5 concentration was 41 µg/m³, corresponding to an AQI of 114 (1).
Just like the weather, air quality changes frequently. On Tuesday morning, Kampala was ranked the 3rd most polluted major city in the world.
For a more detailed look, see Kampala’s air quality map.
Kampala, Uganda ranked as the 3rd most polluted major city on September 2, 2025 1:10 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
What is Causing Poor Air Quality in Kampala?
Kampala’s air quality is shaped by a combination of natural factors and human activity. Key contributors include:
- Vehicular emissions: Rapid growth in car ownership, outdated fleets, and traffic congestion release significant PM2.5 from exhausts and idling vehicles.
- Industrial activities: Factories and power plants contribute pollutants, with new industrial zones adding to the pollution load (1).
- Biomass and waste burning: Widespread use of wood and charcoal for cooking, along with open waste burning, significantly increases fine particulate matter.
- Unpaved roads and construction: Dust from construction sites and roads adds to daily PM2.5 concentrations, particularly in the dry season (2).
These challenges are worsened by meteorological conditions such as low humidity, weak wind patterns, and temperature inversions, which trap pollutants close to the ground.
Hourly air quality forecast for Kampala, Uganda on September 2, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Later in the evening, air quality is forecasted to improve, though day-to-day fluctuations remain common.
Air quality map of Kampala, Uganda on September 2, 2025 1:10 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
