Lukwago Warned KCCA About Kiteezi Disaster in January

Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, issued a stern warning to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in January about the imminent danger at the Kiteezi landfill, a warning that has tragically proven prophetic.

During an oversight visit with other city leaders to assess the state of the 36-acre landfill, Lukwago expressed grave concern about the site’s condition. He described the landfill as being in a “horrible and disastrous state” and called on KCCA management to account for the 4.1 billion shillings allocated annually for the facility’s maintenance.

“We were quite appalled by the eyesore of ever-piling mountains of garbage, decayed installations like the leachate treatment plant, and the weighbridge, which have not been operational for over a decade,” Lukwago said during the visit. He also highlighted the poor condition of maintenance equipment, such as excavators and bulldozers, which were hired at a cost of 2.5 million shillings per item, per day, but were in a deplorable state. Lukwago emphasized the need to address these issues urgently to prevent a looming catastrophe.

Despite his warning, no action was taken by KCCA to address the obvious risks. The worst fears were realized on Saturday when the towering mountain of garbage at Kiteezi collapsed, killing at least 21 people, burying houses, killing livestock, and destroying property. The landfill, which receives over 2,000 tons of garbage daily, was initially slated for closure in 2005.

In 2015, an academic study had also issued a warning about the dangers at Kiteezi, citing the increasing waste volumes and the resulting steep slopes, particularly vulnerable during the rainy season on the Northern tipping front.

In the aftermath of the disaster, many are arguing that this incident should be treated as a case of criminal negligence rather than an accident. President Museveni has since ordered the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate the incident.

In response, KCCA has proposed to immediately halt garbage dumping at Kiteezi and shift operations to a 136-acre site in Ddundu, Mukono district, which the city authority acquired in 2015. However, this plan has met with strong opposition from locals in Mukono, who refuse to allow their area to become a dumping ground for Kampala’s waste.