Empewo bwe bulamu "Air is life" project

The Empewo bwe bulamu project was a 2025 initiative funded by the EPIC Air quality fund and implemented in Kampala, Uganda.

The main aim of the project was to expand air quality data access and strengthen policy engagement around Urban Air pollution.

The project was awarded to Dorothy Lsotho and Rebecca Larson with Public Square EA serving as the on ground partner for coordinating, deployment, stakeholder engagement plus operational management.

Roles played by Public Square EA in project implementation.

As the local actor, we played a central role from implementation to the final launch

Technical coordination with Sensor providers

We worked closely work with AirQo, the designated supplier, to ensure all sensors delivered for the project met the required specifications prior to deployment.

Strategic monitor placement across Kampala

To ensure equitable coverage and meaningful data collection, we identified and secured strategic locations based on pollution exposure, urban activity and the main goal of democratizing access to air quality data.

One of most strategic locations was the Buganda kingdom headquarters. With a governance legacy spanning over 750 years, it remains one of the most influential cultural institutions in Uganda. Establishing a monitoring station at this location strengthened the project's visibility and a pathway for continued engagement on air quality beyond the 12 months duration.

Deployment oversight and stakeholder management

We maintained an on ground team that oversaw the installation of the monitors by AirQo. Our team ensured the monitors were installed in areas approved by the local leadership and community stakeholders to ensure future conflict is avoided and there is acceptance of the monitoring infrastructure.

Data connectivity and monitoring

Following installation, we worked closely with AirQo to ensure the data from the monitors was being transmitted and showing on the dashboard accessible to OpenAQ, in incidents where a monitor was not visible on the dashboard, our team followed up with the AirQo technical team to troubleshoot and rectify the issue, inclusive of returning to the monitor location sites where necessary.

Project launch

We were in charge of the planning, stakeholder engagement and logistical preparation of the launch event.

The project was launched in February 2026 by the Prime minister of Buganda bringing significant visibility to the issue of air quality and the importance of data for meaningful policy discussions.