KCCA LAUNCHES USD 1MILLION PROJECT TO DECOMISSION PART OF KITEEZI LANDFILL

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in partnership with UN Habitat, has secured and launched a USD 1 million grant project from the Government of Japan to support the stabilization and mitigation of high risk areas within the Kiteezi landfill as KCCA undertakes formalities to procure a viable contractor to take on the overall decommissioning.

Following the garbage slide at Kiteezi landfill last year in August 2024, KCCA working with the UN Habitat wrote a joint proposal to the Japanese Government to secure funding for the decommissioning of the collapsed Kiteezi landfill to mitigate the environmental and health risks posed to the surrounding communities.

This one year project named “Emergency Technical Assistance to KCCA, Rehabilitating the Kiteezi Landfill”, will help decommission part of the landfill, about 7 acres out of the total 39 acres which represents about 250,000 cubic meters of waste using the Fukuoka method.

The project scope of work includes reducing the steepness, moving and stabilizing the slopes of garbage, installing ventilation pipes to help remove the dangerous methane gas, installing the leachate collection pipes and construction of the leachate treatment ponds but also capacity building for the local teams on how to manage risks and disaster around landfills among others.

The area member of Parliament for Kyadondo East, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi welcomed and commended the project and thanked the Japanese Government and UN Habitat for the support.

“Am so happy to see this project coming in at this time because our people have been much worried and waiting patiently for the decommissioning to avoid further risks” Muwada said.

“We welcome the project and we shall support it to deliver the work within the set time frame, we know it’s covering just part of the landfill but it’s relieve to our people. Thank you KCCA for organizing such stakeholder engagements to update us and our people on the steps and progress on the issues of the garbage slide victims” Muwada said.

Muwada challenged government to fast track the compensation process of all affected persons but also the decommissioning process.

Phiona Nshemereirwe who represented UN Habitat commended the KCCA efforts in securing support following the Kiteezi incident before she presented the project plan.

“Following the garbage slide at Kiteezi last year, we sat down with KCCA and wrote a proposal to the Japan Government. In November 2024, a team from the Japan ministry of environment came and did a rapid assessment on the landfill and in February they responded giving us a USD 1 million grant” Phiona said.

Phiona further noted that several countries compete for this funding but in Africa its only Uganda and Ethiopia that managed to secure this funding to support emergencies on landfills.

“The team coming to support this project will be led by one of Japanese trusted expert in this field Prof. Mastfujji and therefore there is no doubt they will do a good job” Phiona said.

The KCCA Acting Director for Public Health and Environment, Dr. Sarah Zalwango who also represented the Executive Director at the launch, thanked the Kiteezi landslide victims and community for being patient with government as they process their compensation and also decommission the landfill.

“I know the compensation process has taken time but I want to thank you leaders and the community for your patience as we work to resolve all the issues. Am happy to hear that you all welcome this project and that you are ready to support it, please let us work together to support it as we also look for more funding to decommission the whole landfill” Zalwango said.

Kasangati Town Council Mayor, Muwonge Tom, extended his condolences to families affected by the 2024 collapse. He thanked KCCA and UN-Habitat for the intervention and urged leaders not to politicize the project.

"Saving lives must be our priority. Everything else can follow," Mayor Muwonge stressed.

KCCA Spokesperson Daniel Muhumuza Nuweabine provided updates on the ongoing process to upgrade to tarmac, the 9-kilometer Mpelerwe – Kiteezi – Kiti road, which is the main access road to the landfill. He stated that the African Development Bank is in advanced stages of approval of the road’s construction as part of the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP).

"The road has no compensation component, and we urge community leaders to engage residents who may be affected to ensure cooperation when it comes to provision of right of way," NuweAbine said.

UN Habitat representative noted that the team was already mobilizing man power and equipment to commence work as soon as possible. The project was expected to start in February 2025 and be completed by March 2026.