Tragedy at Kiteezi: Kampala's Dumping Ground and the Human Cost of Waste Management

The Kiteezi waste dump catastrophe serves as a grim reminder of the urgent challenges Uganda faces in managing its waste. Following the landslide that killed 30 individuals, including a young garbage collector’s best friend, calls for change emphasize the dire implications of negligence in waste management strategies. With a mix of political blame and citizen suffering, the path forward is fraught with complexities yet demands immediate action.

Fighting back tears, 22-year-old garbage collector Okuku Prince recalls the moment he found his best friend’s lifeless body buried under heaps of waste at the Kiteezi dump in Kampala, Uganda. The tragic landslide, which occurred in August, took the lives of 30 individuals, sparking outrage and a blame game between local and national authorities. Many of those who perished were informal recyclers, relying on the dump for their livelihoods by salvaging valuable items from the trash.

As Mr. Prince reflects on the chaos of that day, he questions the safety of the site, lamenting, “We’re not safe here. Unless they repair it… otherwise, people are not safe.” Once a promising law student at the Islamic University of Uganda, economic hardships have forced him to abandon his educational aspirations, leaving him to scavenge at the dump. He now earns around 10,000 shillings (approximately $2.70) a day, a stark contrast to his previous life.

The collapse not only took lives but also displaced hundreds of families, making clear the flaws in the city’s waste management system. While families of the deceased received minor financial compensations, about 200 residents who lost their homes remain with neither support nor answers. Local authorities have indicated that compensation for these families is pending budget evaluations.

Kiteezi landfill, established in 1996 with World Bank funding, comprises a staggering 15 hectares of accumulated waste, processing an estimated 2,500 tonnes of refuse each day from a city of four million people. Urban planner Frank Muramuzi points out the long-standing negligence, noting that mixing various types of waste without sustainable practices ultimately led to the landfill's instability. He advocates for improved waste management through sorting, recycling, and regular monitoring, arguing that addressing these issues could prevent future catastrophes.

Meanwhile, Mayor Erias Lukwago highlights the bureaucratic hurdles and financial shortfalls hampering effective waste management reforms, insisting that local authorities lack the power to initiate necessary changes. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) struggles to acquire the $9.7 million needed to rehabilitate the landfill, relying heavily on limited external support from development partners.

As the aftermath of the Kiteezi landslide unfolds, city officials are drafting new waste management strategies aimed at creating compost from organic waste and reducing overall refuse entering the city. Yet, experts warn that without addressing systemic issues, these efforts are insufficient. With many lives affected, the community asks pertinent questions about governmental responsibility and support, with Mr. Prince longing for the return of his friend, stating, “We lost our friend. All that transpired in the process was sorrow.”