At least 18 dead after landfill site collapses in Uganda's capital

A large landfill collapsed in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, resulting in at least 18 deaths, according to the Red Cross. This tragedy has once again brought the issue of urban waste management into sharp focus, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure and safety measures.

The Kampala Capital City Authority stated in a statement that the Kitkezi landfill collapsed on Friday evening. The landfill serves as the waste disposal site for most of Kampala, and the accident also injured 14 people, with at least two of the deceased being children. Heavy rainfall is believed to be the cause of the collapse, exacerbating existing structural weaknesses. The city authority indicated that there was a "structural failure of the waste mass," but specific details remain unclear, necessitating a thorough investigation into the underlying causes.

Irene Nakasiita, a spokesperson for the Uganda Red Cross, stated that more bodies were discovered at the site on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 18. She added that "the assessment is not yet complete," and rainfall is slowing down the efforts of rescue teams digging through piles of garbage. The challenging conditions are further complicating the recovery efforts and hindering the ability to provide assistance to those affected.

The Kitkezi landfill is located on a steep slope in a poor area of the city. Women and children often gather there to scavenge for plastic waste to earn income, and some houses are also built close to the landfill. For years, Kampala authorities have been considering closing the landfill and commissioning the construction of a larger waste disposal site outside the city. It remains unclear why this plan has not been implemented since 2016, raising questions about bureaucratic delays and resource allocation.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation into the incident and posted a series of posts on social platform X, questioning why people would live near such an unstable pile of garbage. Museveni said, "Who allowed people to live near such a potentially dangerous pile of garbage?", adding that the sewage at the site itself is dangerous and people should not live there, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent future tragedies.