Mukono, Uganda
In a significant and contentious move, the Mukono Municipal Council has passed a resolution allowing the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to dump waste at the Katikolo landfill.
This decision was made during an emergency council session held at Collin Hotel on Friday, prompted by the urgent need to address the waste management crisis in Greater Kampala.
The Kiteezi landfill, which has long served as the primary dumping site for Kampala’s waste, is now considered too dangerous to use following a recent tragic incident, leading to the search for alternative sites.
The resolution to use Katikolo has sparked both relief and concern within the Mukono community.
While the move provides a temporary solution to Kampala’s waste crisis, it raises significant environmental and social questions for the residents of Katikolo and the surrounding areas.
The council’s decision follows a high-level meeting chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Kadaga, where it was suggested that waste be diverted to Mukono and Wakiso.
However, the lack of proper consultation with local stakeholders and the absence of a comprehensive plan for managing the influx of waste have left many residents worried about the potential consequences.
The meeting at Kampala earlier agreed tat all garbage trucks that have been depositing garbage in Kiteezi be taken to Katikolo in Mukono District and Menvu in Busukuma, Nansana Municipality.
But the meeting lacked a minute backing the decision from the respective councils.
At the Friday meeting in Mukono, Romeo Augustine, the Secretary for Finance and Management, presented a proposal on behalf of the Mayor, Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo.
The proposal outlined the key points from a recent meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga.
During the Kampala meeting, it was noted that while Kiteezi landfill still has about four unused acres, it’s not safe to use them right now due to the recent tragic incident.
Another possible site in Menvu, Nansana Municipality, was also considered, but it’s difficult to access at the moment.
Therefore, it was decided that although the Katikolo landfill has limited space, Mukono Municipality has secured funds for a faecal sludge project and has the designs ready.
However, they need more land and have requested 4.5 billion shillings to buy 30 additional acres.
The resolution supported the idea that Mukono Municipality should receive 4.5 billion shillings to purchase more land for waste management.
State of Katikolo Landfill
Records from the Municipal Council show that in 2006, ten acres of land were acquired, but six of them were taken over by others, and the municipality has been slow to reclaim this land.
There are claims that the land was occupied by prominent leaders in the area. Plans were made to expand the Katikolo landfill to 30 acres, with the government valuer pricing each acre at 150 million Uganda shillings.
However, by the time the Kiteezi landfill incident occurred, Katikolo was already filled to capacity and closed, leaving the streets and alleys of Mukono overflowing with waste.
George Masengere, the Municipal Environment Officer, reported that Mukono generates nearly 270 tonnes of waste daily but is only able to collect 79 tonnes, leaving about 200 tonnes uncollected.
Council’s deliberations
The council meeting was turned into a full committee for deeper discussion, with the speaker taking charge as chairperson.
Betty Nambooze, the Member of Parliament for Mukono Municipality, kicked off the debate by emphasizing that Kampala’s waste problem is massive and shouldn’t just be shifted to Mukono.
Instead, she argued for finding a permanent solution. She pointed out that Kampala generates 2,500 tonnes of waste daily, and while an inter-ministerial meeting recommended dumping waste in Mukono for three days.
Nambooze questioned what would happen after those three days if no formal agreement is signed, especially since there’s no clear budget for the site’s development.
She further stressed that Katikolo wasn’t designed to be a landfill, but rather a composting site, and warned of the potential problems that could arise from accepting garbage, such as pollution of water sources, air contamination, road damage, and reduced property values nearby.
Nambooze described accepting waste in Mukono as “biting off more than we can chew,” and suggested fencing off the area and connecting it to piped water to mitigate some of these issues.
Robert Ssozi, a councillor representing Nantabulirwa, added that although records show that 2,500 tonnes of waste are collected daily in Kampala, recent delays in waste disposal mean the actual amount could be even higher.
He emphasised the need to consult with the residents of Katikolo and find the best solutions for them before making a final decision.
Ritah Nandyose, the councillor for Katikolo, agreed that Mukono should help by accepting the waste, but also urged the authorities to consider improving water access in the area.
Technical Staff Responds
Francis Byabagambi, the Municipal Town Clerk, requested that all cameras be removed before he spoke, explaining that a formal agreement between Mukono and KCCA was unnecessary since the decision to assist Mukono had already been made during an inter-ministerial meeting.
He assured the council that the government’s commitment to supporting Mukono was solid, saying, “The government follows through once the process is complete, and I’ve always delivered, so you should trust me.”
Byabagambi pointed out that Mukono and Kiteezi have been interdependent in waste management, so it’s important to help each other now.
He mentioned that the decision would be presented to the cabinet on Monday, and while there is currently no specific allocation of the Ugx4 billion needed to purchase additional land at Katikolo, this matter would be addressed in the supplementary budget.
Byabagambi also noted that graders and excavators have already arrived at the Katikolo site to prepare the ground for waste dumping.
He emphasised that, according to the agreement reached in the Kampala meeting, the government would provide the necessary road equipment and fuel for vehicles before any waste is accepted.
The first garbage will be coming from Kiira Municipality as a result of this inter-ministerial arrangement.
On the other hand, Rhodah Tiitwe Kagaga, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner in Charge of Mukono Municipality, confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed regarding the three-day dumping period, and the agreed-upon issues are being addressed.
George Masengere added that Mukono has partnered with organizations like the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the European Union to develop a comprehensive waste management strategy.
According to him, the plans for Katikolo include creating a transfer station and a fecal sludge treatment center.
The designs, bill of quantities (BOQs), and operating model are all in place, awaiting the acquisition of land.
The overall municipal strategy for solid waste management requires about USD14 million and several partners have shown interest in developing the facility once the land is secured.
Community Speak
Nelika Kalibbala, the LCI Chairperson of Kitale village, which is next to Katikolo, expressed concern about the waste being brought from Kampala, questioning whether it would be properly sorted since the site was initially prepared for decomposing waste.
She also pointed out that there’s only one road connecting her village to Katikolo, and there’s no alternative route.
“Once the road is affected, how will people get through? We can’t handle the emergency from Kampala,” she added.
The vehicles from Kiira use the Nantabulirwa-Kitale route to reach the Katikolo site.
Andrew Ssenyonga, a former district leader, shared his skepticism based on past experiences with government promises, noting that during his tenure, the government failed to fulfill any of its commitments.
“Once they get the go-ahead, they’ll stop listening to the local leaders. I recommend forming a committee to discuss the matter thoroughly, and then ask for another council session to review the MoU. If you rush to pass a simple resolution, you’ll regret it in the future,” he warned.
Former District Khadhi, Sheik Sazir Lumara, criticized the information given to the councillors, suggesting that unless the funding is explicitly specified, the government’s promise is likely to remain unfulfilled.
“You can’t expect to receive Ugx4.5 billion just for offering three days of dumping. What happens after those three days? Decision-makers should remember that cheap things often turn out to be expensive,” he cautioned.
Passing the Resolution
The council reconvened after the committee discussions, and Speaker Dorah Nakaddu instructed the clerk to read the resolutions.
The key points were that Katikolo land would be used for three days of waste dumping, with further council discussion if this period is extended.
Other resolutions included grading roads to Katikolo, ensuring water and electricity connectivity for the community, signing an MoU with full transparency, educating Katikolo residents on the pros and cons of waste dumping, and identifying land encroachers.
The speaker quickly called for a vote by a show of hands, signaling the endorsement of shifting waste dumping from Kiteezi to Katikolo while sidelining other resolutions.
However, Vincent Lubwama insisted on a formal vote, saying, “We are not in a village meeting.” The vote was then conducted, and the “ayes” carried the day. The speaker swiftly concluded the session.
Speculations
There were allegations that councillors received Ugx100,000 each to pass the resolution, with promises of an additional 200,000 shillings.
Despite being treated as an emergency, some crucial steps were skipped.
During the council session, Mayor Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo distanced himself from the motion to allow waste dumping, stating that it was signed on his behalf by his Secretary for Finance.
The mayor expressed his displeasure with the proceedings and left before the resolution was passed.
In an interview outside the council session, Betty Nambooze observed that the councillors appeared to be under some influence, although she did not elaborate further.
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