Nakibale Namara

Ugandan environmental pioneer transforming plastic waste into sustainable housing

Nakibale Namara's 2020 startup Plastic2Bricks has diverted over 1.2 million kg of plastic waste from Lake Victoria. Her patented process converts non-recyclable plastics into durable building materials used in affordable housing projects across East Africa. Featured in National Geographic's 2022 Climate Solutions series, her work reduces construction costs by 40% while creating 1,500+ jobs for women in Uganda. The UN Habitat awarded her the 2023 Global Innovation Prize for developing the first plastic-based earthquake-resistant building codes. Her recent partnership with Kenya Power integrates solar energy systems into these eco-homes, creating Africa's first zero-waste neighborhoods showcased in Fast Company's 2024 Sustainability Issue.