Tragedy Strikes Kampala: Voices from the Kiteezi Dump Landslide

The recent landslide at Kiteezi dump in Kampala caused the deaths of 30 individuals, sparking discussions on safety and accountability among local authorities. As waste collectors like Okuku Prince grapple with personal losses and financial instability, the need for enhanced waste management practices and structural reforms becomes increasingly urgent.

Fighting back tears, 22-year-old rubbish collector Okuku Prince recalls the heart-wrenching discovery of his best friend, Sanya Kezia, whose lifeless body was unearthed from a massive rubbish dump in Uganda's capital, Kampala. The landslide at the Kiteezi dump last August tragically resulted in the deaths of 30 individuals, leading Prince to believe that more victims remain buried beneath the extensive refuse.

Most of the victims were individuals who scraped by, salvaging discarded items like fishing nets and plastic bottles to sell for survival. In the aftermath of the collapse, a blame-game erupted between Kampala's city council and the central government, with each side accusing the other of negligence over safety concerns, leaving some victims without proper burials.

When government tractors finally retrieved Kezia's body, the gruesome sight left Prince in shock. "We're not safe here," he remarked, warning that without immediate repairs to the dump site, the safety of workers remains compromised. Previously a law student at the Islamic University of Uganda, Prince's life has drastically changed; like many youth in Uganda, he now works as a rubbish collector due to soaring unemployment rates.

The Kiteezi landfill, built in 1996 with World Bank financing, is now inadequately accommodating the city's growing waste, as it handles an estimated 2,500 tonnes of rubbish each day. Local urban planner Frank Muramuzi pointed out that the lack of proper facilities for recycling and waste management at Kiteezi makes its structure increasingly fragile, especially under the pressure of heavy rainfall.

While compensation has been distributed to the relatives of deceased victims, approximately 200 residents displaced by the landslide have yet to receive any financial relief. Local officials claim they are waiting on budget allocations to address this issue. The KCCA has previously proposed decommissioning the landfill, yet Mayor Erias Lukwago notes that their proposals have been hindered by limited funding from the central government.

Amid this tragic backdrop, the government has shown little commitment to resolving the landfill crisis, recently blaming the KCCA for the failures leading to the disaster. Senior officials were dismissed, yet structural and systemic reform still appear absent.

As local leaders draft plans to convert organic waste into compost to alleviate the over-burdened landfill, experts argue that such initiatives alone will not address the deep-rooted issues at Kiteezi. With memories of loss still fresh, residents like Prince feel the promises of change ring hollow. "We lost our friend," he lamented, emphasizing the lingering sorrow of a community forced to reckon with the inadequacies of their environment.