By Amos Ssemuwemba
For over 28 years, Kitezi garbage dumping site has been receiving garbage since it’s launch in 1996. The site occupies over 36 acres of land.
Kitezi which is located in Nangabo sub-county, Wakiso district, serves as the main garbage dumping site for Kampala, and its metropolitan areas such as Wakiso, Mukono, and Kira.
Kitezi on a daily basis its able to receive over 170 garbage trucks, of which these contribute to about 21,000 tons of waste per month from Kampala Capital City Authourity (KCCA) and about 18,000 tons from private waste collection companies. Aryampa et al., 2019 report’s.
As the site reached its limits, KCCA in 2015 purchased land in Ddundu,Mukono that covers over 135 acres so as to relocate the garbage dumping site. However since then it has faced challenges from the residents of the area, who threatened to sue KCCA and that frustrated the the relocation of the dumping site.
Last year, 2023, under the leadership of Executive Director Dorothy Kisakka, KCCA was able to set up a Weaste-to-Energy plant that is aimed to combat all the garbage into energy. The plant is said to be still under constructio
For nearly three decades, the Kitezi Garbage Dumping Site has stood as Kampala’s primary waste disposal facility. Established in 1996 and sprawling across over 36 acres in Nangabo sub-county, Wakiso district, Kitezi has become a symbol of both urban growth and environmental strain. Its role in managing the waste from Kampala and its neighboring areas—Wakiso, Mukono, and Kira—has been critical, yet the site has faced mounting challenges over the years.
Each day, Kitezi receives waste from more than 170 garbage trucks, amounting to approximately 21,000 tons of waste monthly from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and another 18,000 tons from private waste collection companies. This influx has led to significant environmental and health issues. The accumulation of waste and the limited space have caused concerns about soil and water contamination, air pollution, and public health hazards.
By 2015, it was clear that Kitezi was reaching its capacity. In response, KCCA acquired a 135-acre plot in Ddundu, Mukono, intending to relocate the garbage dumping site. However, this plan faced considerable opposition from local residents of Ddundu. The community’s resistance included threats of legal action, which significantly hampered the relocation process. Residents expressed concerns over potential environmental impacts, property devaluation, and the disruption of their daily lives.
In 2023, under the leadership of Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, KCCA introduced a transformative project aimed at addressing the waste management crisis. A Waste-to-Energy plant was initiated, designed to convert waste into energy. This plant represents a significant shift in waste management strategy, potentially reducing the volume of waste that needs to be landfilled and generating renewable energy in the process.
As of the latest reports, the plant is still under construction, but it holds promise for a sustainable solution. If successful, it could alleviate the burden on Kitezi and mitigate some of the environmental impacts associated with traditional waste disposal methods.
