𝐊𝐂𝐂𝐀 Begins Kiteezi Landfill Shutdown After Fatal Landslide, Secures Shs 357 Billion for Waste Overhaul

The Kampala Capital City Authority (𝐊𝐂𝐂𝐀) has officially initiated the phased shutdown of the Kiteezi landfill in Wakiso District, nearly a year after a devastating landslide at the site claimed 30 lives.

KCCA’s Executive Director, Sharifah Buzeki, confirmed the development during a press briefing, announcing that Shs 357 billion has been secured to fund a long-overdue waste management reform across Kampala City.

“We have started decommissioning Kiteezi, flattening garbage heaps using a USD 1 million grant from the Government of Japan, channeled through UN-Habitat, to address the immediate high-risk zones at the landfill,” Buzeki said.

The initial intervention will target seven of the landfill’s 39 acres, with priorities including slope stabilization, leachate management, gas emission control, and drainage upgrades.

Kiteezi has served as Kampala’s primary waste disposal site for decades, receiving up to 2,000 tonnes of solid waste daily from a population nearing four million. Despite prior warnings about its declining condition, the landfill remained active until tragedy struck in August 2024. A nighttime landslide triggered by heavy rains buried homes, leading to the confirmed deaths of at least 30 people, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango.

Subsequent investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of three former top KCCA officials — Dorothy Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and Daniel Okello — who now face 57 charges, including manslaughter and gross negligence. They were granted bail in November 2024 by the Kasangati Magistrates Court, with cash and non-cash bond conditions imposed by Chief Magistrate Beatrice Kainza.

In a forward-looking move, KCCA has acquired a 230-hectare site in Buyala, Mpigi District, to develop a modern Integrated Waste Management and Resource Recovery Facility. The facility is expected to include advanced recycling systems and waste-to-energy technologies, aimed at mitigating the city’s long-standing waste crisis.

Buzeki stated, “This new site is a direct response to the longstanding crisis at Kiteezi. It represents a turning point in how Kampala handles urban waste.”

With the Kiteezi decommissioning now underway, KCCA aims to restore public confidence, enhance urban resilience, and create a cleaner and safer environment for future generations.

📍For more updates, follow us across social media.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 — 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦.