The Lord Mayor His Worship Erias Lukwago visited Kitezi landfill in Wakiso district on Tuesday, January 9th in a move to address the pressing waste management challenges facing the city.
The landfill, sprawling across 36 acres, has reached its capacity, necessitating immediate action to avert environmental and health hazards.
During the inspection, Lukwago emphasized the critical need for an increased fleet of garbage trucks, revealing that the current garbage collection rate in the city stands at a concerning 60 percent.
Despite the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) possessing 29 garbage trucks, only 22 are in good working condition, further exacerbating the waste disposal crisis.
“We need more garbage trucks, at least 100 so that every parish in Kampala gets one, to improve garbage collection,” said Lukwago, highlighting the urgency of bolstering the city’s waste management infrastructure.
The mayor stressed that the current situation demands a concerted effort to secure the necessary funds and resources to enhance Kampala’s waste management capabilities.
Lukwago’s call for action extends beyond the need for additional trucks; he underscored the importance of formulating a comprehensive policy on solid waste management.
This policy, he explained, would address key aspects such as proper disposal methods, efficient utilization of garbage trucks, and the promotion of recycling practices within the city.
“The landfill in Kitezi is at its limit, and we must marshal all our energies to sort out this mess,” Lukwago said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The situation at Kitezi calls for a concerted effort to secure the necessary funds and resources to enhance Kampala’s waste management infrastructure.
“We are not convinced that we should shift our focus to other areas before fixing this mess. It’s not only KCCA but also the parliament that acknowledges the severity of the issue,” Lukwago stated, highlighting the collective responsibility of both the local government and legislative bodies.
In light of the city’s waste management conditions, Lukwago also spoke about government’s plans to rehabilitate Kitezi-Buwambo road which is mainly used for the transportation of garbage to the landfill.
He disclosed that the government secured a $288 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP). The same funds will be utilized for the improvement of Kitezi Road.
“We expect works on this road to start around March, so be firm we shall work on the road since funds have been secured,” Lukwago said.
Despite discussions about potentially relocating the land fill to Dundu in Mukono district, Mayor Lukwago emphasized the need to prioritize fixing the current waste management challenges before considering a shift.
KCCA has a 136-acre piece of land in Dundu Mukono district where it has plans to establish a modern recycling plant to manage waste in the city.
