18 August 2024 – CISL Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellow, Dr Gabriel Okello, wrote in New Vision about the need for urgent change in the way that Uganda manages its waste.
A devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala has killed at least 21 people and displaced around 1,000 after a massive mound of waste (rubbish) collapsed late Friday night, August 9, 2024. The heavy rains in the recent weeks are believed to be the main cause of the collapse, and fears remain that more bodies might be buried under the debris.
This disaster highlights the urgent waste management crisis facing Uganda. The country’s urban areas, particularly Kampala, are struggling with growing populations and an increasing amount of organic waste. This has led to common yet harmful practices like open dumping and burning, which worsen air pollution, increasingly make people sick and pollute our environment.
Kampala produces approximately 28,000 tonnes of waste monthly, but only 40% is collected. The waste management system faces many challenges: divided waste management responsibilities, lack of sufficient data on waste collection and its impacts on the environment, weak enforcement of existing regulations, poor infrastructure, low public awareness, and limited funding. The lack of a cohesive National Waste Management Strategy further complicates efforts to address these issues effectively.
Despite ongoing challenges, Uganda is actively advancing waste management through several initiatives. Some of these include: the National Climate Change Policy which promotes waste-to-energy and biogas production, the revised Nationally Determined Contributions which aims for a 24.7% emissions reduction by 2030 through better waste practices, the Green Growth Strategy which emphasizes high-quality manure production and emission cuts, the Energy Transition Plan focuses on bioenergy from agricultural waste, the Urban Solid Waste Management Strategy and technological innovations, such as Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology which are converting waste into animal feed and biogas.
In response to the Kiteezi tragedy, the following actions could be explored to mitigate further risks and improve waste management practices. To address the landfill challenges, a buffer zone around the waste footprint should be secured to prevent collapses during the rainy season. Conduct a topographic survey to assess landfill stability and contour profiles. Next, perform a detailed study of the site’s methane levels and borehole tests. Review the past decade's waste records to evaluate quantities deposited. Carry out an environmental impact assessment, focusing on surface and groundwater effects and leachate production. Develop waste diversion strategies, including a comprehensive masterplan, and finally, build capacity to improve waste management in other cities to prevent future disasters.
Ultimately, Uganda needs a well organised and coordinated approach to organic waste management, integrated with broader urban planning and development efforts. Applying a collaborative and participatory integrated multiple stakeholders’ approach will ensure conceptualization and co-design of context-specific, relevant and sustainable solutions, leading to healthier people and cleaner environments. This integrated approach should include development a comprehensive national strategy with clear roles for each stakeholder, increased investment in infrastructure, increased public awareness on waste segregation and recycling. These actions could be supplemented by establishing a Waste Management Fund with financial incentives and fostering public-private partnerships, strengthening enforcement, improving regulatory compliance and streamlining data collection to inform waste inventories.