A total of 16.8 acres of the Kiteezi landfill have been rehabilitated and handed over to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) after the completion of the first phase of an emergency project aimed at stabilising the waste disposal site.

The handover ceremony, held at the Kiteezi landfill on Wednesday, marked the completion of the year-long “Emergency Technical Assistance to Rehabilitate Kiteezi Landfill” project. The event was attended by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, government officials, representatives from the Government of Japan, UN-Habitat, and KCCA.

The rehabilitation project was supported by a $1 million grant from the Government of Japan and implemented through a partnership between UN-Habitat and KCCA. The intervention focused on securing high-risk areas of the landfill rather than rehabilitating the entire facility.

The Kiteezi landfill covers about 36 acres, meaning approximately 20 acres remain to be rehabilitated before the full site can be addressed.

The emergency intervention was launched following the partial collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in August 2024, which prompted authorities to speed up efforts to stabilise the waste mass and reduce risks to communities living near the site.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja praised the rehabilitation works, describing them as an example of what can be achieved through international cooperation and improved planning.

“When you look at how it was in 2024 and how it looks now, you have done a great job,” Nabbanja said.

The Prime Minister also called for a shift in Uganda’s approach to waste management, urging greater focus on recycling, waste recovery, and turning waste into an economic opportunity.

Japanese landfill method used to improve safety

The rehabilitation works applied the Fukuoka Method, a Japanese-engineered landfill management approach designed to improve the stability of old dumpsites while reducing methane emissions.

The method involves improving landfill conditions through better drainage, ventilation, and controlled decomposition of waste.

Engineers working on the project reshaped unstable waste slopes, reduced steep waste cliffs, constructed terraces in high-risk sections, and strengthened the waste mass to lower the risk of further collapse.

The project also included the installation of gas ventilation pipes to manage methane generated from decomposing waste. Leachate collection and treatment systems were developed to control contaminated water produced inside the landfill.

In addition, KCCA technical staff received training in landfill risk management to support monitoring and maintenance of the rehabilitated areas.

Japanese Ambassador to Uganda Sasayama Takuya said the rehabilitation of Kiteezi highlighted the importance of adopting wider solutions to address the increasing challenge of urban waste management.

More funding needed to complete rehabilitation

Officials said the completed works represent important progress but stressed that the rehabilitation of Kiteezi landfill is not yet finished.

Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda said rehabilitating the landfill had been a long-standing goal and thanked the Government of Japan and UN-Habitat for their support.

However, she called for continued assistance to address the remaining sections.

“We have worked on 16 acres, but 20 more need to be rehabilitated,” Kabanda said.

State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye said more funding would be required to complete the next phase of works.

“Out of 36 acres, we have so far done 16.8 and have 20 acres to finish,” he said.

He estimated that at least $2 million would be needed for the continuation of the rehabilitation programme.

KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki said the rehabilitation forms part of broader efforts to modernise waste management in Kampala by promoting recycling, waste recovery, and private-sector participation.

The completion of the first phase marks a major step in securing parts of Kiteezi landfill, although officials say further investment is needed to fully address remaining risks and support a more sustainable waste management system in Kampala.