A Scoping Review of Trends in Atmospheric Pollution Research in Uganda (1990–2025)

Air pollution is an emerging environmental and public health concern in Uganda; however, the evolution of atmospheric pollution research in the country has not been comprehensively synthesized. This study presents a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature published between 1990 and 2025, examining the temporal trends in research output, key pollutants investigated, the study environments and research methodological approaches. A structured literature search was conducted across three academic databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed) and eligible studies were screened and analysed using a standardized data extraction framework. The results reveal highly uneven growth in research output, with minimal activity prior to 2010, followed by rapid expansion after 2015 and a pronounced surge between 2020 and 2025. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) dominated the literature across all periods, while gaseous pollutants such as NO2, SO2, CO, and O3 were comparatively underrepresented. Most studies were conducted in urban environments, particularly in Kampala, whereas rural ambient monitoring remained limited. Methodologically, the literature evolved from proxy-based and gravimetric approaches to the increased use of low-cost sensors, portable monitors and satellite-derived data. Despite recent advances, the predominance of short-term and spatially constrained studies highlights persistent gaps in long-term and nationally representative air quality monitoring. This review synthesizes trends, methodological developments, and evidence gaps in atmospheric pollution research in Uganda over a 35-year period, providing a foundation for strengthening future monitoring and policy frameworks.