In Uganda, eight fatalities, including two children, in the collapse of a landfill

A Tragedy in Kampala

At least eight people, including two children, were killed on Saturday, August 10th in Uganda by a collapse at a garbage dump in the capital city of Kampala, triggered by heavy rains. Local media reported that individuals, homes, and livestock were swallowed by the landslide following the heavy rains in a large landfill in the district of Kiteezi, in the northern part of the city.

Rescue Efforts and Structural Failure

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which manages the site, confirmed the death toll, stating that eight people, six adults, and two children, had been found dead. They also mentioned that fourteen individuals had been rescued and taken to the hospital, without specifying their conditions. The KCCA mentioned a structural failure within the waste mass which resulted in the landfill section’s collapse.

Call for Intervention

The head of the KCCA had previously characterized the situation at the dump site as a “national crisis,” emphasizing the urgent need for intervention from the central government and parliament. The landfill, in operation since 1996, received around 1,200 tons of waste daily, causing concerns about safety and environmental hazards.

Regional Impact

The tragic incident in Kampala underscores the challenges faced by regions in East Africa due to recent heavy rains, with neighboring countries like Ethiopia reeling from devastating landslides that have claimed numerous lives. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the urgent need for proper waste management strategies and support for the affected communities in the region.