By KT Reporter
Starting October 2025, UN-Habitat will begin decommissioning and repurposing the 8-acre Kiteezi landfill in Wakiso District, Uganda, following its tragic collapse in August 2024 that claimed 24 lives. The landfill, established in 1996 with World Bank funding, has been Kampala’s primary waste disposal site, handling 2,500 tonnes of waste daily. It has faced persistent challenges, including poor waste separation, operational inefficiencies, and safety risks.
Benon Kigenyi, Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), announced the development on September 2, 2025, during a session with the Committee on Commissions, State Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), chaired by Medard Sseggona Lubega, MP for Busiiro County East. Kigenyi said, “UN-Habitat has the regulatory clearance to commence decommissioning and repurposing works at Kiteezi. With their advanced technology and global experience, they are well-equipped to tackle this project.”
UN-Habitat, supported by a $1 million (approximately UGX 3.723 billion) grant, will provide technical expertise and equipment to manage the landfill’s closure. This includes draining and treating hazardous leachate, which has affected nearby residents and the environment.
The Auditor General’s 2023/2024 report highlighted ongoing cracks at the site, warning of further collapse risks, and criticized the UGX 2 million compensation per household for relocation as inadequate given urban living costs. Sseggona noted that some residents have returned to homes near the landfill due to delays by the chief government valuer, undermining KCCA’s relocation efforts.
The August 10, 2024 collapse in Kiteezi village, Kasangati Town Council, underscored the urgent need for a sustainable waste management strategy for Kampala. UN-Habitat’s intervention aims to prevent future tragedies and improve environmental safety. Meanwhile, in May 2025, the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) filed a petition in the High Court against KCCA and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The petition accuses the government of failing to decommission the landfill promptly, violating residents’ constitutional rights to a clean and healthy environment. CEHURD argued that KCCA’s inability to maintain proper waste management infrastructure and control toxic leachate discharge into the Kiteezi–Kitetika stream threatens residents’ health, life, and property.
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