Tragic Landslide at Kampala Landfill Claims 17 Lives

A devastating landslide at Kampala’s primary landfill has resulted in the deaths of 17 people, with rescue efforts ongoing. The disaster struck late Friday night after weeks of heavy rainfall caused a massive mound of garbage to collapse, burying homes near the landfill.

Red Cross spokesperson Irene Nakasita confirmed the rising death toll, which increased from the initially reported 8 to 17, following the recovery of four additional bodies on Sunday. Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango initially reported 13 deaths, a number that was later updated.

In response to the disaster, President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the prime minister to oversee the evacuation of residents living near the landfill. The government has launched an investigation into the causes of the landslide and will hold accountable any officials deemed negligent, according to a statement from the Inspectorate of Government on X (formerly Twitter).

So far, 14 people have been rescued, but authorities are unsure how many more might still be trapped. Emergency shelters have been set up by the Red Cross for those displaced by the collapse.

The Kiteezi landfill, which has been Kampala’s only waste disposal site for many years, had grown into a significant hazard. Residents have frequently voiced concerns about environmental pollution and safety issues related to the site. Efforts to secure a new landfill have faced delays over the years.

This tragedy is part of a troubling pattern of landfill disasters in Africa. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere on the continent, including a 2017 landslide in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that killed at least 115 people, and a 2018 disaster in Maputo, Mozambique, which claimed 17 lives.

As rescue operations continue and investigations proceed, the focus remains on supporting affected families and preventing future occurrences of such devastating events.