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Youth for change – Chris Ssali

Hosted by: Andani
August 20, 2026
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Timeline

  • 00:00 Cold open: introducing Ugandan climate activist and circular economist Chris Ssali
  • 03:15 Umoja Kwa Haki Ya Tabianchi and its global climate justice network
  • 05:28 How grassroots work connected Chris with the international climate movement
  • 07:39 The campaign to end fossil fuel subsidies and finance renewable energy
  • 10:15 Why plastic pollution became the movement's priority in East Africa
  • 13:34 Building a youth-led movement through university volunteers across Uganda
  • 14:51 From studying chemistry to working in cosmetics and pharmaceutical production
  • 18:04 The turning point: watching toxic industrial chemicals flow into wetlands
  • 19:54 "Planet before profit": changing professional behavior without abandoning chemistry
  • 21:58 Turning discarded plastic bottles into bins, baskets, and a sustainable business
  • 27:30 Chris's roots in rural Uganda and the search for education and essential services
  • 30:14 Moving toward Kampala at age ten in the aftermath of Uganda's civil war
  • 32:41 A childhood shaped by war: discovering human remains while farming
  • 39:29 Surviving city life by fetching water, carrying luggage, and pursuing an education
  • 47:06 From dreaming of medicine to finding another way to protect his community
  • 50:21 How scouting, tree planting, and deforestation led Chris into climate activism
  • 54:52 The interconnected crisis of plastics, soil degradation, agrochemicals, and deforestation
  • 58:24 The Global Plastics Treaty and the corporate lobbying blocking an agreement
  • 1:02:00 How a binding treaty could hold polluters accountable and support African recyclers
  • 1:04:39 Umoja's future: empowering young leaders to solve community challenges
  • 1:07:26 Closing: why Chris deserves a first-class seat on the Just Energy Transition
  • 1:11:18 Outro: stay inspired, stay engaged, and keep pushing for a just transition

Summary

In this episode, Chris Ssali takes us from his early days in chemistry to the frontlines of climate activism in Uganda. Now carrying forward the work of United for Climate Justice, a youth-led movement fighting plastic pollution and climate injustice

He also explains why single-use plastics, fossil fuel subsidies, and weak enforcement hit communities hardest in the Global South. We also explore how young people are building practical solutions through advocacy, community action, and circular economy projets. It’s a grounded conversation about resilience, justice, and what real climate leadership looks like on the ground.

The Guest: Bio

Meet Chris Ssali

Chris Ssali is a Ugandan climate activist, researcher, chemistry laboratory technician, circular economist, and climate educator. He is the Country Director of Umoja Kwa Haki Ya Tabianchi, also known as United for Climate Justice Uganda. He is also a co-founder of Safe Uganda and founder of the Ssali Soveneire Environmental Foundation. His work focuses on plastic pollution, fossil fuel subsidies, circular-economy solutions, and empowering frontline communities to advocate for environmental justice.

Climate Activist, Researcher, Circular Economist & Climate Educator

Chris Ssali

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Frequently asked questions

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Who is Chris Ssali?
Chris Ssali is a Ugandan climate activist, researcher, chemistry laboratory technician, circular economist, and climate educator. He is a leader of Umoja Kwa Haki Ya Tabianchi, the Ugandan branch of United for Climate Justice, and has also co-founded Safe Uganda and founded the Ssali Soveneire Environmental Foundation. His work focuses on plastic pollution, fossil fuel subsidies, environmental education, and community-led climate solutions.
Umoja Kwa Haki Ya Tabianchi means “United for Climate Justice” in Swahili. It is a youth-led Ugandan climate movement connected to a broader international network spanning the Global South and Global North. The initiative educates and mobilizes young people, advocates for climate justice, and works to hold corporations and political leaders accountable for environmental harm.
Chris focuses on plastic pollution because discarded plastics are widespread across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, contaminating waterways and blocking drainage systems that can worsen flooding. Although some East African countries have introduced restrictions on single-use plastics, he argues that enforcement often falls short. His advocacy calls for reduced plastic production, stronger regulation, producer accountability, and greater investment in recycling and circular-economy initiatives.
Chris co-founded a social enterprise that collects discarded plastic bottles and transforms them into products such as waste bins, baskets, and household items. The initiative combines environmental action with entrepreneurship by reducing plastic waste, creating useful products, and demonstrating how locally led circular-economy businesses can generate income while addressing pollution.
Chris believes a binding Global Plastics Treaty could establish common rules for plastic production, restrict harmful chemicals, and hold major corporations accountable for their plastic footprint. He also argues that it could help direct funding toward grassroots recycling enterprises in countries such as Uganda. Without a binding agreement, communities and activists often lack the legal and financial tools needed to challenge powerful plastic, oil, and gas companies.

Stories of Energy and Sustainability

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