Kampala

CoM SSA kicks off 2026 with strategic engagement with cities

Early in the year, CoM SSA co-implementing partners, Expertise France and GIZ, intensified engagement with partner cities to define cooperation priorities and prepare new partnerships to work on spatial planning, flood and water management, and waste management.

Eight years on: evaluating the Kampala Climate Change Action Plan

On June 7th 2024, a workshop was organised by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to present the findings of the Kampala Climate Change Action Plan (KCCAP) evaluation. The KCCAP is a strategy developed by the Kampala Capital City Authority in 2016 to address climate change challenges and opportunities. It covers the following areas: energy, urban mobility, land use planning, and eco-practice. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22% by 2030, enhance adaptive capacity, mainstream climate change response in city services, promote low-carbon development, increase stakeholder awareness, and foster city-to-city cooperation on climate change issues. The KCCAP, developed with the financial support of AFD and the technical support of Expertise France, is a transversal framework for mainstreaming climate response in all KCCA mandates and services.

CoM SSA Mayors spearhead sub-Saharan Africa's local climate action agenda at COP28

Amid the scorching temperatures marking 2023 as the hottest year on record, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) showcased unwavering determination and vigour at COP28 in Dubai. The landmark event, which spanned from November 29 to December 14, culminated in the UAE Consensus, which includes: a call to transition away from fossil fuels, a framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation as well as unprecedented references to multilevel action. Despite these strides, the Consensus fell short of closing the climate ambition and implementation gaps, underscoring the critical role of subnational governments in charting a sustainable course for the future.

CoM SSA Regional Mayors Forum (RMF) Africa Climate Week Declaration

We, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) Regional Mayors Forum (RMF) - Governors and Mayors representing the voices of over 350 cities in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total population exceeding 150 million people - make the following Declaration at the Africa Climate Summit and the Africa Climate Week 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya

Highlights from Africa Climate Week: Multilevel governance, a key enabler of a new dispensation for climate ambition and action

African subnational governments have evidence-based plans and projects to accelerate climate action, but significantly increased funding is needed to implement these at scale. An unprecedented number of subnational government leaders present at the Africa Climate Week and Summit, held from the 4th to the 8th of September in Nairobi, Kenya called for the mandatory inclusion of subnational governments in the preparation of the next phase of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 2025, re-emphasising the critical importance of multilevel governance in tackling the climate crisis.

Kampala tackles the issue of household access to electricity

Uganda has one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world. Generation capacity is dominated by hydropower, supported by heavy fuel oil and biomass cogeneration power plants. Nonetheless, Uganda is richly endowed with renewable energy resources for energy production and the provision of energy services.

In the face of unavoidable trade-offs, leveraging existing climate finance for multiple uses is key

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) Secretariat hosted a session at COP27 in the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) Multi-Level Action Pavilion which brought together local government leaders and finance experts to unpack the trade-offs that African city decision-makers face every day in the midst of the climate crisis.

Kampala is working to improve air quality for its citizens with a study to measure and mitigate air pollutants in the city

Monitoring air quality is key to developing solutions to mitigate air pollution, and meet public health, environmental, research and climate change goals for Kampala. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Strategic Plan 2020-2025 sets out a clear objective to reduce and address disaster and climate risks through effectively addressing air pollution and air quality challenges. Although KCCA cannot yet effectively monitor and implement a city-wide air quality policy, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), the European Union and its implementing partner Expertise France (EF) are supporting the local authorities to measure air quality more effectively in the city.

Statement on speeding up urban climate action in sub-Saharan Africa | COP27

We, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub Saharan Africa Regional Mayors Forum, representing the voices of over 320 cities in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total population exceeding 150 million people, and building off the Dakar Declaration, make the following statement here at COP27:

Charting the way forward towards a just energy transition in Africa

At Africa Climate Week 2022, Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa hosted a session focused on harnessing renewable energy for the just energy transition in African cities. Leaders from African local governments, energy experts and other stakeholders discussed ambitions and needs to drive this transformative change.

Kampala takes concrete measures to improve air quality, how does this link to its broader climate plan ?

Air pollution accounts for over seven million premature death annually, yet many African countries still lack reliable air quality data to make informed actions to reduce air pollution. As a result of the increasing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and its concentration in urban areas, the deterioration of air quality is becoming a public health issue in many African cities. According to the State of Global Air, the annual deaths due to particles in the air, have been steadily increasing over the last 30 years in Uganda, reaching over 27 000 in 2019.

CoM SSA milestones at Africities: Climate Action Plans launched and a new leadership structure set in motion

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa participated in the Africities Summit 9 by hosting several sessions including a high level opening plenary to mobilise and expand the CoM SSA network and officially launch the Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAP) of two signatory cities. CoM SSA used the Summit as an opportunity to bring together the newly-elected CoM SSA Regional Mayors Forum for their inaugural meeting. Nine mayors representing the four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa took part in a closed session where the chairperson, Mayor of Kloto I (Togo) was elected.

CoM SSA activities kick-off in Uganda

From 14th to 18th February 2022, Kampala and Kasese authorities officially kicked off their CoM SSA climate action activities with Expertise France

Conversations with CoM SSA | Gender sensitive public lighting: Why and how?

The webinar was a first attempt to discuss the importance of mainstreaming social and gender issues within the development of Street Lighting projects. CoM SSA partner, AFD took this opportunity to launch a Gender Sensitive Public Lighting User Guide developed to help municipalities to develop SL projects that integrate gender at different stage of project development.

Financing public lighting projects: Capacities and solutions for bright public spaces

Many African cities have plans for public lighting projects but often struggle to get these financed. A practical training session provided the chance to learn from experts, financiers and cities with successful public lighting projects.

It is time to invest in air quality in Uganda

Air pollution is a big challenge in many cities in the Sub-Saharan Africa region including Kampala, Uganda’s capital. The French Agency for International Technical Cooperation (Expertise France) and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) collaborate on updating Kampala’s Climate Action Plan to support the local government in improving air quality for residents.

Lessons from past & present crises

Building sustainable African cities before and after a pandemic webinar series

CoM SSA signatories and experts share their lessons learnt in their journey towards building a sustainable city, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic

“Strengthening networks to exchange knowledge and best practices is key to building resilient cities during and after global cri

This was the common message from the speakers at the launch event of our webinar “Lessons from past and present crises”, that featured mayors and city experts from Uganda, Liberia and Senegal and attracted more than 100 attendees from all corners of the continent and beyond.

Climate Chance Summit 2018: CoM SSA cities share experiences

CoM SSA pilot cities and funding partners sharing progress during the Climate Chance Summit in Abidjan – 28 -29 june 2018.

Climate Chance Summit 2018: city experience

Deputy Lord Mayor of Kampala city, pilot city of CoM SSA, the Climate Chance Africa was a real opportunity of experiences sharing between non-government actors.