The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has called on the Ugandan government to urgently address the worsening waste management crisis in Kampala. Speaking before Parliament,
He highlighted the closure of the Kiteezi landfill, which has left the capital city’s waste without a proper disposal site, resulting in visible heaps of uncollected garbage throughout the city.
“KCCA (Kampala Capital City Authority) tells us that Kampala generates between 2,000-2,500 metric tons of waste per day. That waste now doesn’t have a home,” Ssenyonyi noted, drawing attention to the city's growing public health concerns.
He explained that attempts to move the waste to alternative locations in Wakiso and Mukono districts have failed to materialize, with local communities pushing back against the plans.
Ssenyonyi warned that the accumulation of waste in residential and commercial areas poses significant health risks, with the potential for outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and other sanitation-related illnesses.
“When you move through different parts of Kampala, you will find heaps of garbage because it isn’t being collected. Can we know what the plan is? Otherwise, we are going to have another disaster, cholera, or something of the sort,” he added.
The closure of the Kiteezi landfill, which served as Kampala’s primary waste disposal site for years, has left the city scrambling for alternatives. However, efforts by KCCA to find a replacement site have been hampered by logistical and community resistance.
The opposition leader called on the government to present a clear strategy to Parliament on how it plans to handle the waste management crisis before it escalates into a full-blown public health emergency. With the rainy season approaching, the uncollected garbage could lead to blocked drainage systems and worsen sanitation issues, putting more pressure on the government to act swiftly.