Minister Kabanda explains urgent move for Ghanaian contractor for Kiteezi waste management

The Minister for Kampala, Minsa Kabanda has written to the acting KCCA Executive Director asking that he interacts with Jospong Group of Companies, the new contractor for Kiteezi landfill waste management.

In an October, 15 letter, Kabanda said a cabinet meeting that sat on October, 14  noted an urgent need for addressing the issue of garbage in Kampala.

She says in the letter that during the cabinet meeting, questions on getting an alternative dumpsite for new garbage being generated and getting rid of the old rubbish heap and managing the damage it had caused rose up.

“The president noted that if the land on Mityana road has no squatters, it could be taken over in public interest but with guidance from the Attorney General,” Kabanda said.

She notes that during the cabinet meeting,  it was observed that Jospong Group of Companies had shown interest in reducing the height of the landfill at Kiteezi , using the capping method as well as offering a long term solution to implementing the recycling solution.

Urgency

In a bid to solve the matter which needs urgency, Kabanda directed the acting KCCA Executive Director to interact with the Ghanian contractor with a view of ensuring  that start community engagements  with residents around Kiteezi landfill as soon as possible in preparation for work on reducing the height  and other related issues of managing the landfill.

“I also direct that you in the meantime engage with the Attorney General to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding  between KCCA and Jospong spelling out the duties and responsibilities of each party in regards Jospong’s activities at Kiteezi.”

It is said that the Ghanaian waste management company, had previously expressed interest in using the capping method to reduce the height of the Kiteezi landfill.

The method involves covering the waste with a protective layer to prevent environmental contamination.

Alongside this, the company plans to implement a recycling solution that will provide a long-term solution to Kampala's waste management challenges.

Benchmarking visit to Ghana

Earlier this year, a Ugandan delegation visited Ghana on a benchmarking mission to study the waste management systems in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

GAMA, home to over five million residents, has made significant strides in managing its waste through government initiatives, community involvement, and technological advancements.

Uganda's visit aimed to explore potential collaborations that could help improve the waste management sector back home.

The visit highlighted how Ghana has successfully dealt with its waste management issues, despite facing challenges similar to Uganda’s.

The Jospong Group played a central role in Ghana’s progress and was seen as a key partner in Kampala’s efforts to find sustainable waste management solutions.

Consequently,  high-level discussions between the Jospong Group, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and key technical teams from various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) took place