The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has launched a high-stakes effort to decommission the long-overburdened Kiteezi landfill, backed by a US$1 million grant from the Government of Japan through UN-Habitat. The move marks the beginning of an ambitious plan to modernize Kampala’s waste management system and urban infrastructure.
Announcing the intervention during a press briefing on the city’s 2024/2025 Financial Year Accountability, KCCA Executive Director Hajjati Sharifah Buzeki described the project as one of the authority’s biggest achievements in the past year.
“We have started decommissioning Kiteezi, flattening garbage heaps with the USD 1 million grant to mitigate immediate high risk at the landfill,” she said.
The funds will go toward stabilizing a 7-acre section of the 39-acre site, particularly areas most vulnerable to gas emissions, leachate contamination, and slope collapse. Drainage improvements will also be implemented to safeguard surrounding communities.
The emergency response comes almost a year after the August 10, 2024, garbage slide at Kiteezi that killed over 30 people and displaced 142 households. So far, 18 affected households have been compensated, while 70 more await valuation. The government has earmarked UGX 2.14 billion for this process.
To prevent future tragedies, Buzeki emphasized that KCCA is transitioning from reactive dumping to an integrated waste management system. As part of this shift, the authority has secured 230 hectares of land in Buyala, Mpigi District, where a state-of-the-art waste treatment and resource recovery facility will be constructed.
“This will be a game-changer for Kampala,” she said, noting the future plant will incorporate recycling, waste-to-energy, and safe disposal solutions.
Meanwhile, KCCA continues to invest in community sensitization, weekend clean-up drives, and anti-littering enforcement. Over 4,000 vulnerable residents have been contracted to support public sanitation, while enforcement teams crack down on illegal dumping.
As Uganda enters the political season, Buzeki cautioned political actors against disrupting services in schools, markets, and taxi parks. She encouraged peaceful engagement and compliance with KCCA’s guidelines on campaign activities.
“Let us preserve peace and order, and remember that service delivery must remain uninterrupted,” she concluded.