Government is transferring to decommission the Kiteezi landfill following its collapse and eventual dying of over 23 individuals.
The Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Lillian Aber made this revelation whereas presenting a press release to the House chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, 13 August 2024.
The Kiteezi landfill in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District has been the first waste disposal website for Kampala since 1997 receiving 2,500 tonnes of waste every day.
Its collapse on 10 August 2024 has highlighted the necessity for a sustainable and safer waste administration technique.
Aber mentioned that authorities will transfer to decommission the Kiteezi landfill citing the urgent want to stop any additional lack of life or environmental harm.
“The tragic occasions have underscored the important vulnerabilities in our waste administration system. As a consequence, the federal government has determined to fast-track the decommissioning of the Kiteezi landfill,” she mentioned including that, ‘a 200-meter buffer zone across the landfill has been preserved and we’re flattening the rubbish hill to stabilize the world as we part out operations’.
She added that the federal government is actively pursuing various websites for waste disposal.
“We have recognized potential websites in Menvu, Nansana and Busumamura in Kira Municipality,” Aber added
These websites, she famous, are anticipated to switch Kiteezi and assist mitigate the approaching waste disaster within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
The minister revealed that they’re taking a look at adopting fashionable waste administration practices.
“Our focus is on implementing incineration and recycling strategies to make sure that waste disposal is sustainable and environmentally pleasant. We are dedicated to remodeling how we handle waste in Uganda to stop such tragedies sooner or later,” Aber mentioned.
Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi mentioned the tragedy was a catastrophe ready to occur as earlier warnings had fallen on deaf ears.
Nkunyingi said that there are experiences of gasoline extraction on the landfill which can have triggered the accident.
He added that it was disheartening to see individuals who have been killed by the catastrophe being termed as land encroachers. He referred to as for a complete help to the individuals affected by the catastrophe.
The Minister for Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Minsa Kabanda mentioned it’s untimely to speak about compensation when there are individuals believed to be nonetheless buried.
She disputed the data that gasoline was being extracted from Kiteezi.
Ora County MP, Hon. Lawrence Songa mentioned that the Committee on Climate Change had earlier suggested the town authority to fast-track the decommissioning of the landfill however that, no motion was taken.
Songa mentioned that that they had really helpful that buyers be invited to show the waste into gasoline, however this was not accomplished. He additionally highlighted that Uganda loses over Shs1 trillion yearly resulting from waste-related points.
“What we’ve in Kitezi is a dumping website, it’s not a landfill. I don’t see any landfill in Uganda with full engineering know-how, which we’re not doing,” he mentioned.
he Third Deputy Premier, Rt Hon. Rukia Nakadama mentioned the emergency rescue programme is ongoing and can be expedited by mobilising gear from completely different companions to make sure that mild is availed for a 24-hour rescue mission.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa mentioned that originally Parliament would have put up a committee to research the matter however acknowledged that different processes have been now ongoing. He mentioned because the presiding officer, his focus is on the people who find themselves nonetheless caught within the landfill.
