On August 9, 2024, a catastrophic landslide occurred at the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, engulfing homes and killing numerous residents. The disaster was triggered by weeks of heavy rainfall saturating the 30-meter-high mound of decomposing waste, causing it to collapse violently on communities around its edges. The landfill, operational since 1996 and serving as Kampala’s primary waste disposal site, receives approximately 2,500 tons of garbage daily despite being declared full in 2015. The waste mound had grown vertically beyond its safety limits, creating a precarious and unstable environment prone to collapse.
The landslide resulted in the confirmed deaths of up to 35 people, including children, with many more injured and trapped under the debris. Rescue operations successfully saved at least 14 individuals, but the toll was devastating. Approximately 1,000 people were displaced by the disaster, most losing their homes and possessions. Survivors faced not only physical losses but were thrust into poverty and insecurity, many lacking adequate shelter or compensation a year later. One affected resident, Shadia Nanyongo, described the harsh realities her family faces, living cramped in a single room with six family members and surviving on a single meal per day, underscoring profound ongoing distress.
Kampala’s mayor, Erias Lukwago, characterized the tragedy as “inevitable” given decades of mismanagement, poor urban planning, and the landfill’s overcapacity. Despite repeated calls for closure and relocation, authorities continued to allow waste dumping, leaving the site dangerously overloaded. President Yoweri Museveni expressed shock and concern, questioning,
“Who permitted individuals to dwell near such a potentially dangerous and hazardous pile?”
He ordered investigations and urged government accountability for negligence contributing to the disaster.
Persistent Environmental and Health Risks Post-Collapse
The Kiteezi landfill remains a critical environmental hazard. Despite being officially closed after the disaster, the site continues to emit lethal methane gas, causing fires reported in February and June 2025. Such fires release toxic gases, poisoning the air for thousands living nearby. Methane accumulation stems from the significant volume of organic waste decomposing anaerobically within the landfill, making the area a continual risk zone.
Ivan Bamweyana, a geomatics expert at Makerere University, firmly stated, “The disaster could have been avoided,” criticizing poor waste management and late intervention. Bamweyana warned of ongoing dangers, emphasizing, “What is coming can still be avoided,” if urgent actions to stabilize the site and manage methane emissions are taken.
Beyond the immediate collapse zone, contamination from the landfill leachate has polluted local soil and groundwater, increasing risks for disease. Research indicates high levels of toxins have seeped into nearby wells, poisoning water supplies for thousands. The landfill also breeds rodents, flies, and disease vectors, exacerbating public health challenges. Waste pickers frequenting the site face severe health hazards due to lack of protective equipment and exposure to toxic substances. Many engage in informal sorting and scavenging for income, exposing themselves to dangerous materials daily.
The disaster revealed systemic failures in Kampala’s fragmented and under-resourced waste management system. Kampala produces around 28,000 tons of waste monthly, with only 40% collected formally. The lack of coordinated national strategy, poor infrastructure, and limited funding contribute to unsafe practices like open dumping and burning, worsening environmental degradation and public health risks.
Social and Economic Hardships for Survivors
A year after the tragedy, many survivors continue to suffer dire poverty and marginalization without adequate government compensation or resettlement. The Kampala Capital City Authority set up temporary shelters and assistance immediately after the collapse, but longer-term support has been insufficient. The Uganda Red Cross spokesperson confirmed that many of the 233 officially displaced residents still await compensation or permanent housing solutions.
Survivors like Zamhall Nansamba report ongoing misery: she narrowly escaped the collapse but now lives in poor conditions with her family. “We are living a miserable life,” Nansamba said, encapsulating the experiences of many struggling to rebuild amid socio-economic hardship.
The disaster also disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, including children, who face disruption in education, psychological trauma, and heightened risks to health. Studies on mental health reveal widespread anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms among displaced families. The lack of structured psychosocial support compounds their vulnerability.
Urban poor communities surrounding the landfill were both physically and economically intertwined with the site, relying on scavenging for livelihood. The collapse destroyed homes and curtailed income sources, trapping families in poverty cycles. The disaster highlights urban inequality and precarious living conditions in rapidly growing African cities.
Stakeholder Positions and Calls for Action
Various stakeholders including government officials, academia, humanitarian groups, and environmental experts emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to prevent future disasters.
President Museveni’s directive for investigations and relocation of affected residents signifies political acknowledgment of the crisis. However, enforcement and follow-through remain inconsistent.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago admitted the collapse was “inevitable,” criticizing years of delayed action despite municipal warnings. He highlighted challenges balancing urban expansion, waste management infrastructure, and public safety.
Ivan Bamweyana, an environmental expert, has been outspoken about necessary technical interventions, including topographic surveys to assess landfill stability, methane testing, environmental impact analyses, and the development of a national waste management masterplan. He stresses integrated stakeholder collaboration and capacity building to build sustainable urban waste solutions.
Human rights and humanitarian groups continue demanding justice for displaced families and systemic policy changes. They argue that the tragedy reflects “urban planning failures” and negligence that led to the preventable loss of lives and ongoing suffering. Calls for transparent investigations, equitable compensation, and permanent resettlement are ongoing.
International development observers note that Uganda’s challenges are emblematic of wider African urbanization issues, where population growth outpaces infrastructure development, and inadequate waste management amplifies environmental disasters.
Technical and Policy Solutions Moving Forward
Experts advocate for a multifaceted approach to address Kampala’s waste crisis. These include:
- Closing and rehabilitating the Kiteezi landfill site with engineered landfill technologies.
- Instituting buffer zones preventing settlements near waste mounds.
- Enhancing methane gas monitoring and mitigation systems to prevent fires and explosions.
- Developing comprehensive, legally binding national waste management strategies incorporating waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and safe disposal.
- Increasing public awareness and improving data collection to target interventions effectively.
- Investing in modern waste-to-energy and biogas projects to transform organic waste into usable energy while reducing landfill burden.
- Promoting public-private partnerships and establishing dedicated waste management funds to finance infrastructure and community programs.
- Collaborative planning with local communities, especially those dependent on informal waste picking, to transition livelihoods safely.
Implementing these recommendations demands political will, sufficient funding, technical expertise, and multi-sector cooperation at local, national, and international levels.
Reflections on One Year After the Kiteezi Landfill Collapse
The collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in August 2024 stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of urban mismanagement, environmental neglect, and socio-economic inequality. One year on, survivors remain trapped in hardship without adequate compensation, while the landfill site continues to pose serious environmental and public health risks.
As Ivan Bamweyana warned, this disaster “could have been avoided,” and unfortunately, the site remains unstable with ongoing methane emissions, fires, and unauthorized access by scavengers. The tragedy calls for urgent reforms in urban planning, waste management policies, and social support systems to safeguard vulnerable populations living near hazardous sites.
President Museveni’s inquiry and Kampala officials’ statements signal recognition of failures but must translate into concrete action, including stable housing, restorative justice, and preventive infrastructure investment. The Kiteezi collapse is not only a Ugandan crisis but highlights challenges faced by many rapidly urbanizing African cities confronting waste disposal, environmental protection, and social equity.
