A new PhD study from the University of Buea has laid out legal and policy solutions to tackle the uncontrolled waste disposal choking Limbe and Buea, with recommendations that could reshape how towns across Cameroon manage solid waste.
The research was defended on Wednesday, 29th April 2026, by Barrister Eboa Samuel Ehabe at the Faculty of Laws and Political Science.
Titled “A Legal Appraisal of Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Cameroon: The Case of the Limbe and Buea Municipalities in Fako Division,” the work directly addresses a problem residents face daily: piles of uncollected waste, blocked drains, and health risks from poor sanitation.
Barrister Ehabe argues that without strong legal and institutional frameworks, waste management will remain chaotic.
His study examines international, regional, and national laws governing waste, and assesses how well Cameroon’s current policies and institutions apply them on the ground in Limbe and Buea.
The findings point to gaps in enforcement, coordination, and resource allocation that leave councils struggling to keep cities clean.
The impact, according to the defense jury, lies in the practical recommendations. These are aimed at helping municipal authorities, policymakers, and environmental agencies close those gaps and create systems that protect public health and restore the aesthetic quality of urban spaces.
“The topic is timely and the recommendations can go a long way to ameliorate the cleanliness of our towns and cities,” the jury noted after the defense.
For residents of Limbe and Buea, the study offers more than academic analysis. It provides a legal roadmap to turn waste from a public health threat into a manageable public service, potentially improving living conditions for thousands of people.
The panel was chaired by Prof. Irene Sama-Lang, UB, with Assoc. Prof. Ewang Sone Andrew, University of Yaoundé II, and Prof. Alvine Longla Boma, UB, as rapporteurs. Assoc. Prof. J.B. Fonyam, UB, supervised the research, and Prof. Sone Patience Munge served as a panel member.
Following the defense, the jury recommended to the Senate, through Dean Prof. Atangcho Nji Akonumbo, that the Ph.D. be awarded.
By Olive Ejang
