By Buganda’s Prime Minister (Katikkiro), Charles Peter Mayiga, has called on the government to adopt waste incineration as a long-term solution to Kampala’s escalating garbage crisis. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Mayiga emphasized the urgent need for the government to procure an incinerator for Uganda’s capital, which lies within the Buganda Kingdom.
“Currently, Kampala is home to over 4 million people, and this number is expected to exceed 6 million within the next three years,” Mayiga stated. “As the population grows, so too will the volume of garbage, and no landfill can accommodate this forever. An incinerator is essential for managing the waste in the long term.”
In addition to incineration, Mayiga proposed the establishment of a recycling plant as a sustainable solution to the city’s waste management challenges. He highlighted the potential benefits of recycling, including the production of fertilizers, charcoal, and electricity.
Mayiga’s remarks follow the tragic collapse of a garbage pile in Wakiso District on August 10, which resulted in the deaths of over 35 people. He also criticized the temporary use of Katabi as a dumpsite for waste from Kampala’s five divisions, noting its proximity to Lake Victoria and the risk of water contamination in the absence of a proper garbage treatment facility.
“The Katabi site is not suitable as a temporary solution, and even relocating waste to Dundu in Mukono District will not solve the problem permanently,” Mayiga argued. “The government must act immediately to address the current garbage crisis in Kampala.”
Until last week, nearly all of Kampala’s daily 2,500 tonnes of waste were disposed of at the Kiteezi landfill. However, after the landfill’s collapse, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which manages the site, faced difficulties in finding an alternative. Following extensive negotiations, the Entebbe Municipal Council agreed to allow the temporary use of the Katabi site for one month.
The junior relief minister, Lillian Aber, reported that more than 1,000 people across three villages were affected by the Kiteezi landfill collapse, with government estimates indicating that nearly 100 residences were damaged.
