Members of Parliament are calling on the government to build recycling plants in various cities across the country to address the issue of accumulating garbage and prevent potential hazards that could cause loss of life.
This call comes after the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, which resulted in the tragic death of over 20 individuals, with many others injured and more than 100 displaced.
While offering condolences to the affected families, the legislators are urging the government to implement better waste management strategies for landfills nationwide.
Asinansi Nyakato, Woman MP of Hoima City, suggested that the government should utilize the garbage by turning it into products such as fertilizers for agriculture and renewable energy instead of allowing it to build up as hazardous heaps.
“Government needs to implement sustainable strategies to ensure that waste management in cities, municipalities, and town councils is efficient,” Nyakato emphasized.
Kampala Central legislator Muhammad Nsereko urged the government to allocate more funds to Kampala city for the maintenance of drainage systems to prevent such disasters.
“We urge the government to authorize private contractors to participate in the redevelopment of these landfills by exploring options for producing energy from solid waste. This is one of the key aspects of solid waste management,” Hon Nsereko explained.
He also emphasized the need for more recycling plants, similar to the one owned by KCCA in Wankoko, to address the high percentage of plastic bottle waste. He proposed imposing a levy on those involved in the bottle business to encourage them to take the bottles to recycling plants, thereby reducing the accumulation of recyclable waste.
Meanwhile, Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanjja attributed poor urban planning by the government as one of the leading causes of such disasters.
“Physical planners and environmental departments like the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have observed residents building houses near the landfill. Those responsible did not fulfill their duties,” Hon. Mayanja said.
He also appealed to the government to provide financial support to the affected residents to help them overcome the challenges they are facing.
The Kiteezi landfill is a large waste disposal site where hundreds of trucks deposit garbage daily in a hilly area.
