Waste crisis in Uganda persists a year later

Waste crisis in Uganda persists a year later

In the heart of Uganda, the city of Kampala is undergoing a significant transformation in its waste management system, following a tragic landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in August 2024.

The Kiteezi landfill, which claimed the lives of 34 people and left more than 20 missing, has been closed permanently. The Japanese government, through UN-Habitat, provided a $1 million grant to secure and decommission the site, with efforts focused on gas emission control, leachate management, and drainage improvements to reduce risks to nearby communities.

Despite the ongoing stabilization efforts, many survivors of the landslide remain uncompensated nearly a year later. However, recent government steps have been taken to arrange compensation payments for the victims.

As Kampala moves forward, a new Integrated Waste Management and Resource Recovery Facility is planned for a 230-hectare site in Buyala, Mpigi District. This modern facility is intended to replace the Kiteezi landfill and improve the city’s waste handling through holistic approaches like recycling and energy conversion.

However, the new Buyala site is controversial due to its location in a forest reserve and the Mayanja River catchment, raising environmental concerns and legal challenges. The controversy has sparked several court cases, with a court ordering an investigation into whether it was a forest reserve.

Community engagement is a key part of Kampala’s waste management efforts. Over 4,000 vulnerable residents have been employed via SACCOs for city clean-ups, and enforcement against illegal dumping and public sensitization campaigns are in place.

Unsorted dumping still occurs at Buyala due to funding and investor shortages for the new facility. To address this, the municipality plans to create a composting project to produce biogas from 80% of Kampala's household trash, which is mainly organic biowaste.

In a twist, the remaining waste could potentially be recycled, according to Nuweabine. This shift from reactive dumping to a more integrated, sustainable waste system is a significant step for Kampala.

The KCCA has also bought 90 hectares of land in Buyala, 27 kilometers west of Kampala, to build a new landfill. The KCCA insists the land near Buyala was legally acquired from two private individuals in March. However, suspicions have been raised by the Uganda's National Forestry Authority spokesperson, Aldon Walukamba, who suspects the city administration and previous landowners may have worked together illegally to secure the sale of the land.

One of the families affected by the Kiteezi landslide is that of Zamhall Nansamba, a resident of Kiteezi, a suburb of Uganda's capital Kampala. An avalanche of rubbish from Kampala's municipal landfill almost buried Nansamba's family and home on August 9, 2024. Nansamba's family had rental apartments down near the landslide, which provided income for her to pay her children's school fees.

As the city moves towards a more sustainable waste management system, it is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents, particularly those who have been affected by the tragic events at the Kiteezi landfill. The KCCA has issued an order for the relevant Finance Ministry to pay compensation to the victims of the landslide in Kiteezi.

The landslide at the Kiteezi landfill was triggered by a methane explosion, highlighting the urgent need for safe and sustainable waste management practices. The city produces 2,000 tons of waste daily, and the transition to a more integrated system is a significant step towards a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly Kampala.

[1] UN-Habitat. (2025). Kampala's Waste Management Transition: A Look at the Kiteezi Landslide and the New Buyala Landfill. Retrieved from [https://unhabitat.org/kampalas-waste-management-transition-a-look-at-the-kiteezi-landslide-and-the-new-buyala-landfill/]

[2] The Monitor. (2025). Compensation for Kiteezi Landslide Victims is Pending but Government-Initiated. Retrieved from [https://monitor.co.ug/news/national/Compensation-for-Kiteezi-Landslide-victims-is-pending-but-government-initiated-3799742]

[3] The New Vision. (2025). Kampala Secures 230-Hectare Site in Buyala for New Landfill. Retrieved from [https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1510251/kampala-secures-230-hectare-site-buyala-new-landfill]

[4] The Observer. (2025). Controversy Over Buyala Landfill Sparks Several Court Cases. Retrieved from [https://observer.ug/news/headlines/68241-controversy-over-buyala-landfill-sparks-several-court-cases]

[5] Daily Monitor. (2025). Unsorted Dumping Still Occurs at Buyala Due to Funding and Investor Shortages. Retrieved from [https://monitor.co.ug/news/national/Unsorted-dumping-still-occurs-at-Buyala-due-to-funding-and-investor-shortages-3799743]

1. The government, with support from the Japanese government through UN-Habitat, has secured a grant to decommission and improve the safety of the Kiteezi landfill, which was the site of a tragic landslide in August 2024.
2. Despite ongoing efforts to stabilize and compensate victims of the Kiteezi landslide, concerns about the environment and illegal practices have arisen regarding the acquisition of a new landfill site in Buyala, Mpigi District.
3. The new Integrated Waste Management and Resource Recovery Facility in Buyala is planned to address ongoing unsorted dumping issues by implementing composting and potential recycling initiatives for the city's waste.
4. In an effort to involve the community, over 4,000 vulnerable residents have been employed for city clean-ups and public sensitization campaigns are ongoing to combat illegal dumping.
5. The National Forestry Authority spokesperson has raised suspicions about the legality of the KCCA's acquisition of a new landfill site in Buyala, adding a complex layer to Kampala's waste management transition.

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