Why Are Survivors Still Living Near the Deadly Kiteezi Landfill?
Zamhall Nansamba thought a plane was taking off the morning the Kiteezi landfill collapsed in Kampala on August 9, 2024. Instead, it was a wall of garbage tearing through trees and homes. She managed to escape with her children, but the disaster killed around 35 people and destroyed dozens of homes. One year later, survivors like Nansamba are still waiting for compensation.
Kiteezi has been Kampala’s main landfill since 1996, receiving 2,500 tonnes of waste every day. Though officials recommended shutting it down in 2015, garbage kept piling up. The collapse, triggered by rain seeping into the landfill’s cracked surface, exposed long-ignored dangers. According to Ivan Bamweyana, a geomatics scholar at Makerere University, “The Kiteezi collapse could have been avoided.” He added, “I would not be shocked if there was a secondary crash.”
The site still emits methane gas, leading to fires in February and June 2025. Despite the risks, many residents continue scavenging the landfill to survive.
What’s the Government Doing About It?
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has promised to begin compensation payouts in September 2025. A new landfill has been identified in Mpigi District, about 30 km from the city. But controversy surrounds this location, as it overlaps with protected forest and wetlands. “They did it hurriedly and illegally,” said National Forestry Authority spokesperson Aldon Walukamba.
Displaced families remain in desperate conditions. Shadia Nanyongo, 29, lost her home and now shares a single room with six relatives. “I pray to God to come with money, because this situation is not easy,” she said.
Waste exports from wealthier countries and poor urban planning continue to strain African cities like Kampala. Bamweyana believes the long-term solution lies in public education about waste and sustainable recycling practices: “We cannot keep solving the problem using the same mechanism that created it.”
By Lucky Anyanje