Members of Parliament have raised concerns over safety, environmental protection and sanitation at Buyala landfill, urging Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to address gaps in waste management as it transitions towards modern waste-processing technologies.
The concerns emerged during an inspection by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), chaired by Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, following observations in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The legislators questioned the continued transportation of uncovered garbage, the absence of a perimeter fence and the sustainability of dumping waste in excavated pits.
They also raised concerns about inadequate sanitation facilities for waste pickers and workers, warning that poor hygiene and limited access to basic services could expose them to health risks.
Nkunyingi said the committee would seek documentary evidence, including a land survey showing the boundaries of the 230-acre site, neighbouring properties and the land currently being used for waste disposal.
He said KCCA would also be required to explain the technical suitability of the site, the investments already made and the financial implications of any decision to halt operations.
“The matter is becoming a bit broader,” Nkunyingi said, adding that the committee would conduct further investigations before making recommendations.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki said the authority was implementing measures to improve waste management while preparing to move away from open dumping.
She explained that seven acres are actively used for waste disposal, while additional land accommodates treatment ponds and other operations, accounting for the wider area currently in use.
Buzeki said KCCA was in advanced stages of procurement for companies expected to establish waste-to-value and material recovery facilities, which could transform garbage into products such as fertilisers, energy and other reusable materials.
She said the authority did not intend to continue dumping waste indefinitely, describing the current arrangement as an emergency measure as KCCA transitions to an integrated waste management system.
The authority has also installed an operational weighbridge to measure incoming waste, alongside pipes for gas management and systems to collect and treat leachate from decomposing garbage.
However, legislators observed that some garbage trucks arriving at the site were still uncovered, despite requirements for waste collectors to transport rubbish under tarpaulins or in covered compactors.
Buzeki acknowledged the concern and pledged to strengthen enforcement of the regulations.
She also said KCCA would enforce the use of protective equipment among waste handlers, following concerns that some workers were not adequately protected.
The inspection further exposed a sanitation challenge facing waste pickers and surrounding communities.
Mutebi Erycom, also known as DJ Erycom, the chairperson of Buyala village, said residents and people working around the landfill lacked convenient access to toilets, forcing some to use nearby bushes.
He said KCCA had promised to construct a toilet two years ago but had yet to fulfil the commitment. He also appealed for improved access to clean water and better health services, noting that existing health facilities were far away.
Buzeki said a toilet was available at the site but acknowledged the need to investigate concerns about access and enforce compliance with safety requirements.
The authority has also encouraged residents to separate waste at source through community sensitisation campaigns and the distribution of sorting bags and bins.
Nkunyingi said the committee would invite relevant parties for further engagement and assess the technical evidence against the concerns raised, including the environmental risks and the substantial public investment already made at Buyala.
The findings will inform the committee’s recommendations on whether the landfill can safely and sustainably handle Kampala’s growing waste volumes.
