The death toll from a devastating landslide at Kampala’s main garbage dump has climbed to 21, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid the debris. The landslide, triggered by recent torrential rains, occurred late on Friday when a massive mound of waste at the Kiteezi landfill site collapsed, burying homes and trapping residents in their sleep.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed his condolences and announced that he has directed the prime minister to oversee the immediate relocation of all residents living near the landfill. “We must ensure the safety of our citizens,” Museveni stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the landslide, with the Inspectorate of Government pledging to hold any negligent officials accountable. “We will take swift action against those found responsible for this tragedy,” the Inspectorate stated on X.
So far, at least 14 people have been rescued from the rubble, according to police spokesperson Patrick Onyango. However, the exact number of those still trapped remains uncertain, as search and rescue operations continue.
Red Cross has set up temporary shelters for those displaced by the disaster, providing much-needed relief to the affected families.
Kiteezi landfill, which has served as Kampala’s sole garbage dump for decades, has grown into a towering hill of waste. Residents have long voiced concerns about the hazardous conditions, warning that the site posed a significant threat to their safety.
Efforts by the city authorities to establish a new landfill site have been delayed for years, exacerbating the risks associated with the aging Kiteezi dump.
Tragically, similar incidents have occurred in other parts of Africa due to the mismanagement of municipal waste. In 2017, a garbage landslide in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, claimed the lives of at least 115 people. A year later, 17 people were killed in a comparable disaster in Maputo, Mozambique.
The Kampala landslide serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by poorly managed waste disposal sites and the urgent need for improved infrastructure to protect vulnerable communities.
