Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called for an urgent response from Parliament and Cabinet over the state of Kiteezi landfill that serves as a garbage site for the five divisions of Kampala and the surrounding areas.
He made the call during a verification visit of the site to establish the current state and ascertain value for money for maintaining the area. The visit was informed by a technical report outlining potential options for the landfill’s future, considering it is filled up.
He says that the 36-acre Kiteezi Landfill, originally designed for engineered waste disposal, has transformed into an open dumpsite, posing significant health and safety risks to the public.
The report presented two main alternatives: decommissioning Kiteezi and establishing a new landfill named Dundu Mukono at a cost of Shs.26 billion and Shs.190 billion, respectively. It also suggested an expansion of the existing Kiteezi Landfill by acquiring an additional 2 acres for two more years of operation, totaling Shs.5 billion.
Expressing deep concern over the landfill’s current state, the Lord Mayor highlighted apparent mismanagement issues despite a budget allocation of Shs.4.1 billion for its operations in the FY 2023/24.
During the fact-finding tour, it became evident that crucial equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, and compactors were in poor mechanical condition and rented at exorbitant costs. Additionally, the Leachate Treatment Plant was found to be non-operational, and the absence of a Weigh-Bridge resulted in estimates rather than accurate measurements of garbage delivered to the site.
Lord Mayor Lukwago stressed that Kiteezi presents a national challenge that demands collaborative efforts from stakeholders, including Parliament and Cabinet. He criticized the environmentally damaging practice of operating open dumpsites and relocating when full, as proposed for both Kiteezi and Dundu sites.
The visit included members of the City Executive Committee, members of the Public Health Committee of the Authority Council, and the Public Health Technical Team. The deteriorating state of the landfill raises serious concerns about the efficacy of waste management and underscores the need for immediate interventions to prevent potential disasters.