Residents of Kyebando, a densely populated suburb in Kampala, are sounding the alarm over worsening sanitation conditions as heaps of uncollected garbage clog drainage channels and spill into homes, raising fears of a looming health crisis.
In areas like Katale, Nsooba, and Central Zone, residents say garbage has become a permanent fixture — rotting in the open, attracting flies, and emitting a foul stench.
During heavy rains, the waste is washed into homes and businesses, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera.
“We’re living in fear every day,” said one resident. “The garbage is everywhere, and we’re afraid diseases like cholera could break out at any time.”
The crisis is exacerbated by unreliable and expensive private garbage collection services. Many residents report that despite being charged monthly fees — with no transparency or standard pricing — garbage is collected infrequently, sometimes only once a month.
“Everyone pays differently, and yet the garbage is collected only once. We don’t even know the official fee,” a resident noted.
Locals are now calling on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to step in by deploying official garbage trucks, setting up waste collection points, and establishing a consistent, affordable collection schedule.
“When it rains, the garbage is washed into drainage and our homes,” another resident warned. “KCCA should give us containers and collect the garbage regularly.”
Amid growing frustration, a group of concerned youth led by Hezekiah Bwegiire organized a community-led cleanup. Pooling resources, they hired a truck and cleared mounds of garbage that had piled up in trenches, roadsides, and people’s compounds.
“We found garbage stuffed in people’s fences and compounds,” Bwegiire said. “The leaders haven’t done enough. We had to step in and help ourselves.”
While their initiative offered temporary relief, Bwegiire stressed the need for both government intervention and civic discipline to achieve lasting change.
“We urge residents to stop carelessly throwing plastics and rubbish in drainage channels,” he added. “Everyone has a role to play in keeping the area clean.”
The situation in Kyebando underscores wider waste management challenges facing Kampala and other rapidly growing urban areas.
Without a coordinated response from both authorities and communities, residents warn the consequences could be catastrophic — both for public health and the environment.