Tragedy Strikes: Kampala's Rubbish Dump Collapse Claims Lives and Raises Concerns

Following a tragic landslide at the Kiteezi dump in Kampala that claimed 30 lives, including that of young rubbish collector Sanya Kezia, the community grapples with grief and negligence allegations. Many lost their homes as authorities are slow to respond to safety and waste management reforms.

Fighting back tears, 22-year-old rubbish collector Okuku Prince recounts the day his best friend Sanya Kezia was tragically found dead at the Kiteezi rubbish dump in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The landslide that occurred last August claimed the lives of 30 people, leaving Prince heartbroken and demanding justice.

“I think some people are still underneath the garbage,” he tells the BBC, emphasizing the dangers residents face as they sift through the refuse that holds some economic value, from fishing nets to broken electronics.

The aftermath of the collapse has ignited a fierce blame-game between Kampala’s city council and the central government, each accusing the other of negligence as communities mourn their dead without proper burials. When authorities finally recovered Kezia’s body, injuries marred the young man’s face, an image Prince cannot shake. “We’re not safe here. Unless they [repair] it, maybe level it. Otherwise, people are not safe,” he warns.

Once pursuing a law degree at the Islamic University of Uganda, Prince now finds himself trapped in a perilous job picking waste, compelled by the spiraling youth unemployment crisis. He brings home just 10,000 shillings (approx. $2.70), struggling to survive after moving away from the dump site due to safety fears.

Local officials have acknowledged the deaths and have offered compensation to the families of the deceased; however, around 200 others, who lost their homes during the recovery efforts, have yet to receive any support. “We’re waiting for the valuation and budget allocation,” says Dr. Sarah Karen Zalwango, head of public health and the environment at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Urban planner Frank Muramuzi argues that the collapse was inevitable, highlighting the negligence of proper waste management practices for over two decades. “You can’t take four million people, get all that waste… to one dumping site,” says Muramuzi, lamenting the lack of proper sorting and recycling at Kiteezi landfill.

Operational for nearly 30 years and housing over 2,500 tonnes of waste daily, Kiteezi is a prime example of Uganda’s outdated waste management systems. Muramuzi notes that as trash layers decay, structural weaknesses grow, demanding urgent government reforms to prevent similar disasters.

Yet, the roadmap for recovery faces hurdles, not least due to political strife and financial mismanagement. Mayor Erias Lukwago claims that current city policies lack the necessary power for effective reforms in waste management despite efforts to decommission Kiteezi that have failed due to funding shortages from the central government.

While conversations surrounding the need for better waste management are ongoing, the families affected by the tragedy are left feeling empty. “They promised us compensation, but I haven’t received anything - almost everyone is complaining too,” Prince laments. Their grief overshadows any promises of change, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and reform in Kampala’s waste management efforts.