KCCA begins stabilization efforts at Kiteezi landfill after deadly slide

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Kampala Capital City Authority is beginning recovery and stabilization efforts at the Kiteezi landfill following a garbage slide that devastated surrounding communities.

The disaster highlighted persistent issues regarding waste management and landfill safety in the city. The government has since responded with victim compensation and technical rehabilitation plans.

KCCA spokesperson Daniel NuweAbine said the most affected sections of the landfill were heavily compacted and structurally unstable. He noted that authorities are prioritizing high-risk zones on the lower eastern and southern slopes where a crater formed.

With assistance from German partners, the KCCA is implementing the Fukuoka Method. This waste management strategy focuses on controlled stabilization, terracing and improved drainage. Officials cited the successful use of this method in Ethiopia as a model for the work at Kiteezi.

NuweAbine also provided updates on the 9-kilometer Mpelerwe-Kiteezi-Kiti road, which serves as the primary access route to the landfill. The African Development Bank is in the final stages of approving tarmac upgrades for the road as part of the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project.

The road project does not include a compensation component, NuweAbine said. He urged community leaders to coordinate with residents to ensure the right of way is granted for construction.

A representative from UN-Habitat said teams are mobilizing personnel and equipment to begin work. The project was scheduled to start in February 2025 with a projected completion date of March 2026.