Published on 15/08/2024
A number of Members of Parliament have condemned the government’s negligence in waste management, following a tragic incident at the Kiteezi dumping site in Wakiso District where 22 people lost their lives, and others are fighting for survival after being buried under heaps of garbage.
Robert Kasolo, the MP for Iki Iki County, expressed disbelief that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) continues to rely on outdated methods, such as dumping rubbish, as part of its waste management strategy. He pointed out that other nations have advanced to generating electricity, gas, and fertilizers from compressed waste, turning what is seen as a problem in Uganda into a resource.
“What happened is a tragedy born out of outdated practices. Garbage is a resource, and we have Ugandans who have seen this done elsewhere. In countries with larger populations, you don’t hear about such disasters because they have developed technologies that allow them to profit from waste instead of merely dumping it,” Kasolo remarked.
Kasolo also criticized KCCA’s plan to procure land in Ddundu, Mukono District, for a new dumping site, arguing that without improved technology, the new site could face the same fate as Kiteezi. He emphasized that merely relocating the problem will not solve Uganda’s waste management crisis.
“When I hear about buying more land in Ddundu, I foresee the same problem recurring. We need to think beyond dumping. Garbage can generate electricity, gas, fertilizers, and even building materials. What happened is a national shame, and I hope this serves as a learning experience so that we can avoid another catastrophe,” Kasolo added.
In January 2024, Dorothy Kisaka, the Executive Director of KCCA, highlighted the need for UGX 220 billion to develop and operationalize the new landfill in Ddundu during the presentation of KCCA’s 2024/25 budget. However, only UGX 216 million was allocated, leaving a significant funding gap of UGX 219.78 billion. Kisaka also requested UGX 4.5 billion for garbage trucks, but no funds were allocated for this purpose in the current budget.
Hassan Kirumira, MP for Katikamu South, described the Kiteezi tragedy as an inevitable consequence of the government’s failure to properly manage waste. He criticized the government for allowing garbage to accumulate to the point where it became a mountain, leading to chemical reactions that triggered the collapse.
“Piling garbage in one place to the extent of forming a mountain shows the government’s abdication of responsibility. In developed countries, waste is managed in a way that turns it into useful products. The tragedy at Kiteezi is a wake-up call for us to move our country to a new level of waste management,” Kirumira said.
He also suggested that the government should invite private investors to establish waste management plants, as this could help address the ongoing waste crisis in Uganda.
Abraham Isamat, MP for Kapiri County in Ngora District, emphasized the need for organized systems and sufficient funding to manage waste effectively. He warned that without government commitment to funding waste management, tragedies like Kiteezi would continue to occur.
“The government needs to commit the necessary funding for waste management, or we will keep seeing such disasters. There should be a designated place where waste can be properly managed, rather than allowing it to pile up and cause tragedies,” Isamat urged.
In March 2021, a report by the Ministry of Finance indicated that KCCA was seeking private sector bids for the development of a new sanitary landfill and waste treatment facility at Ddundu in Mukono District, and a waste transfer station at Kiteezi in Wakiso District. The project, estimated to cost US$163 million (about UGX 603.315 billion), was one of eight projects guaranteed by the government under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracts, valued at over UGX 9.5 trillion.
