Cities Learning from Cities: How Dhaka and Kampala Are Tackling Air Pollution

Dhaka and Kampala operate in very different contexts, yet they face many of the same pressures: fast-growing populations, high exposure to air pollution, and the urgent need for reliable, high-quality data to guide effective urban health policies. Air pollution is a leading contributor to noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke and chronic respiratory illness, and is linked to adverse outcomes in children. In rapidly urbanizing cities like Dhaka and Kampala, improving air quality is not only an environmental priority but a critical public health intervention.

In November, these shared challenges brought a delegation from the Dhaka North City Corporation to Kampala for a week-long exchange supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities. This visit was part of a growing series of City Learning Visits that create space for cities within the Partnership to learn from one another’s progress and practical experience in addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries.

For two cities separated by thousands of kilometers, the exchange reflects a simple truth: meaningful progress on air quality calls for a multi-sector approach and depends on learning from peers facing similar challenges.

Kampala hosted the visit to demonstrate how the city is building a stronger air-quality surveillance system and using data to inform policy and public awareness efforts. Over the past few years, the Kampala Capital City Authority has built an extensive monitoring network, with more than 100 air-quality monitors—including three reference-grade stations— deployed across its 194 square kilometers. This system has helped reveal the city’s pollution patterns: greener neighborhoods like Kololo, Mulago and Makerere consistently report lower particulate concentrations, while denser areas such as Kawempe and the Central Business District are exposed to far higher pollution levels—conditions that increase daily health risks, especially for children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.

These insights are informing Kampala’s policy response, including the development of an Air Quality Management Strategy for 2025/26–2030 and an Air Quality Management Ordinance, which has recently been submitted to the City Council for consideration.

For Dhaka, the visit provided not only an opportunity to observe Kampala’s system but also to share their own approach to building an emerging surveillance network in one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities. Dhaka’s experience managing dense urban environments, diverse pollution sources, and rapid population growth offered Kampala practical insights into what it means to design systems that remain resilient under pressure.

Dhaka North City Corporation is installing 20 affordable air-quality sensors across the city to better understand pollution at the neighborhood level—an important step in a densely populated megacity where traffic, industry, and everyday activity shape the air people breathe. Seeing Kampala’s system in action offered practical lessons on how to keep sensors working well, make sense of day-to-day changes in air quality, and share information in ways that are clear and useful for the public.

As Abul Hasnat Md. Ashraful Alam of Dhaka North City Corporation noted: “Our visit to Kampala reflects Dhaka’s commitment to advancing evidence-based air quality management. By sharing data, lessons, and innovations with another city from the Partnership network, both our cities can refine surveillance systems and craft stronger policies that reduce pollution and safeguard public health.”

Across the week, through activities and site visits, both teams exchanged strategies, shared hard-won lessons and explored how to turn data into action that protects residents from pollution-related health risks. The exchange highlighted the value of peer learning: cities learning directly from cities and translating insights into applicable improvements. The site visits to air-quality monitoring stations and Kampala’s Traffic Control Centre reflected the range of actors involved in tackling air pollution and reducing exposure in urban settings.

The visit illustrated the power of the Partnership for Healthy Cities network: connecting local leadership, global evidence and peer experience to support cities in implementing proven strategies to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries. As Joseph Ngamije, Deputy Director for Africa for the Partnership for Healthy Cities, reflected: “Kampala and Dhaka are showing what urban leadership looks like by using shared insights to build healthier environments for their residents. This visit strengthens a growing network of cities committed to preventing NCDs through evidence-based action.”

The Partnership for Healthy Cities continues to connect city leaders who are turning shared lessons into stronger action to prevent NCDs. Looking ahead, Dhaka North City Corporation is drawing on Kampala’s experience to help shape its next phase of air quality work. This includes exploring a knowledge partnership with Kampala’s Airqo to strengthen local capacity for sensor manufacturing, establishing a dedicated taskforce to support coordination, operationalization of clean air zones, building of staff capacity, and allocating a budget to expand monitoring and strengthen air quality communications.