Tragedy at Kampala's Kiteezi Dump: Friends Remember Lives Lost in Landslide

The landslide at Kampala’s Kiteezi garbage dump tragically claimed 30 lives, including that of young rubbish collector Sanya Kezia. As survivors like Okuku Prince navigate grief amidst rising youth unemployment and inadequate safety measures, heated debates on governmental negligence and inadequate funding highlight the deeper issues plaguing waste management in the city.

Fighting back tears, 22-year-old rubbish collector Okuku Prince recounts the devastating moment he came upon his best friend Sanya Kezia’s lifeless body at the Kiteezi dump in Kampala, Uganda. The tragic landslide last August, following weeks of heavy rain, led to the deaths of 30 people, and many fear that additional victims remain buried under the rubbish.

"Some people are still underneath the garbage," Prince shared with a heavy heart, reflecting on the danger faced by those who rely on the dump for their livelihood. Many individuals sift through the waste to find and sell valuable discarded items, from fishing nets to plastic bottles, to support themselves and their families.

In the aftermath of the catastrophe, communities were quick to assign blame, with local government entities pointing fingers at each other for neglecting safety regulations. Meanwhile, families continued to mourn their dead, denied the dignity of proper burials. When government vehicles eventually unearthed Kezia’s body, the sight was horrifying for Prince, as injuries marred his friend’s face, surrounded by decaying garbage.

Having once aspired to a legal career, Prince's ambition shifted drastically as he struggled to afford tuition after his family’s financial stability collapsed. He now earns approximately 10,000 shillings (about $2.70) a day collecting and cleaning discarded plastics. His situation worsened further when concerns for safety forced him to relocate from his previous home adjacent to the dump.

Kampala's local authorities have acknowledged that while some compensation has reached the deceased's families, approximately 200 individuals displaced by the rubbish landslide have still received no assistance. Dr. Sarah Karen Zalwango, head of public health and environment at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), stated that they are awaiting the budget allocation for proper evaluations.

Urban planners argue that the Kiteezi collapse was predictable, citing a lack of a systematic approach to waste disposal for over two decades. "You can't take four million people and their waste and dump it in one site. That's not sustainable," lamented Frank Muramuzi, a Kampala-based expert.

Kiteezi landfill, originally constructed in 1996 with World Bank funding, now spans 15 hectares—a size comparable to 22 football fields. With daily waste production in Kampala reaching an estimated 2,500 tonnes, and about half of that ending up in various dump sites, the area has become critically unsustainable.

Adding to the worsening state of the Kiteezi site, the lack of essential recycling and sorting facilities increases the landfill's vulnerability. "The problem lies not just in the waste but in the exacerbated conditions created by poor management," Muramuzi explained.

Despite numerous calls for remedial actions, political power struggles and inadequate funding have impeded progress. Mayor Erias Lukwago has lamented the KCCA's incapacity to implement necessary changes due to insufficient resources—specifically, the budget needed to decommission Kiteezi, amounting to $9.7 million, which remains unallocated by the central government.

Following the landslide, the government paid some families $1,350 in compensation, but further funds depend on findings related to fiscal accountability. Recent investigations by police led to the firing of key officials at KCCA, reflecting the political turmoil that surrounds the management of this critical public health issue.

James Bond Kunobere, the solid waste management officer for Kampala, acknowledged the collapse as a wake-up call and mentioned current efforts to promote organic waste composting as a step towards better management practices. However, residents’ lack of understanding of waste separation still complicates these initiatives.

For Prince and others whose lives were irrevocably altered by the disaster, government responses seem insufficient. "They promised us compensation, but I haven't received anything—almost everyone is complaining," he said, grieving the loss of his friend and reflecting on their tragic circumstance.