Kiteezi Landfill Rehabilitation Marks a Milestone in Uganda's Journey Towards Safer Waste Management

"I was born here and I grew up here. When the landfill collapsed, we were devastated because we lost everything. After that, we lived with hazardous gases and the stench from the dumpsite for a long time."

These are the words of Godfrey Baluku, a resident of Kiteezi and survivor of the August 2024 landfill collapse, as he reflected on how life has changed for his community.

Today, that fear is beginning to fade.

"We are now sleeping comfortably and can even hold meetings on the dumpsite without worrying that it will collapse again or that we will be choked by the stench," Godfrey said. While welcoming the progress, he appealed for continued investment, including a functioning drainage channel and a leachate treatment plant to strengthen long-term environmental safety.

For nearly three decades, Kiteezi served Kampala and the Greater Metropolitan Area as the city's main solid waste disposal facility. On 10 August 2024, the landfill collapsed, claiming lives, destroying property and leaving surrounding communities devastated. The tragedy exposed the urgent need for safer and more sustainable waste management.

One year later, hope is returning.

On 5 August 2026, the United Nations in Uganda, through UN-Habitat and with generous support from the Government of Japan, officially handed over the rehabilitated sections of the Kiteezi dumpsite to the Government of Uganda and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). The handover marked a significant milestone in restoring one of Uganda's most critical waste management sites while improving the safety of neighbouring communities.

The rehabilitation exceeded its original target. While the project initially aimed to stabilize 4.3 hectares of the most vulnerable section, engineers successfully rehabilitated 6.8 hectares-covering nearly 47 per cent of the landfill and significantly reducing immediate instability risks. The works included embankment stabilization, terracing, controlled compaction, improved drainage, leachate management, access improvements, and preparation for landfill gas venting and leachate collection systems.

During the handover ceremony, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Leonard Zulu praised the progress achieved through the partnership. He thanked the Government of Japan for its support and commended the engineers for delivering a solution that could be replicated at other landfill sites across Uganda using locally available materials and expertise.

The Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, H.E. Sasayama Takuya, emphasized that sustainable waste management requires more than rehabilitating disposal sites, noting the importance of integrated planning for waste collection, transportation and disposal.

Representing the Government of Uganda, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja called for continuous monitoring and responsible management to safeguard the gains made and prevent future risks, while commending the United Nations for its continued partnership in advancing urban resilience and sustainable development.

For residents like Godfrey, the rehabilitation represents more than an engineering achievement. It is the restoration of safety, dignity and hope. It also demonstrates what strong partnerships between the Government of Uganda, the Government of Japan, the United Nations and KCCA can achieve in building safer, healthier and more resilient communities.