A tragic incident occurred in Kampala, Uganda, on Saturday, when a landfill collapsed, claiming the lives of eight people, including two young children. According to local media reports, homes, individuals, and animals were swallowed by the landslide at the Kiteezi garbage dump, located in a northern district of Kampala. The incident occurred after a period of heavy rainfall.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which manages the landfill, confirmed the fatalities in a statement released on X, formerly Twitter. They reported finding six adults and two children deceased. Additionally, the KCCA stated that 14 individuals had been rescued and transported to a hospital. However, the statement did not provide details regarding their condition.
Rescue operations are still underway, and the KCCA has pledged to provide updates as they become available. Images from the site depict an excavator diligently sifting through piles of refuse while local residents observe.
The KCCA attributed the collapse to a “structural failure in waste mass this morning resulting in a collapsed section of the landfill”. They emphasized that their teams, in collaboration with other government agencies, are actively working to secure the area and prevent further incidents.
The Daily Monitor, an independent Ugandan newspaper, reported on its website that Erias Lukwago, the head of the city authority, had issued a warning in January, highlighting the significant health risks posed to those living and working near the Kiteezi landfill due to overflowing waste.
