Diana Kibuuka
Following the deadly waste slide in Kiteezi landfill, where lives were claimed, injured and lots of property lost, Entebbe municipality leadership has failed to agree on whether they should allow the Kampala City Council Authority waste trucks to temporary dump their waste at Nkumba dumping site in site in Katabi Town council.
From Saturday 10th.August waste trucks belonging to Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA,), Nabugabo, Homeklin and other private trucks were diverted to Nkumba dumping site, and this raised voices of concerned residents who say the dumping site is too small to accommodate all the waste coming from Kampala, fearing that this may end up being dumped on the roads near their homes, hence compromising their health.
In a meeting that was later convened by Entebbe Municipality Environment Inspector Caroline Kirungi, on Monday 11th. August, which was also attended by some councilors from Entebbe municipality, KCCA officers, Local council 1 and III leaders from Katabi, they came to consensus of; allowing the trucks use the dumping site temporary for one month, maintain the dumping site and roads leading to it, opening the site in the morning after 6am and closing it at 11pm, and using Kasenyi road for as an entry route to the site and exit from Nkumba University road.
The resolutions that went on paper were presented to Kampala’s Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago on Tuesday 12th. August, when he made foot at Katabi town council headquarters and to site – Lukwago who first apologized to Katabi town council for not following the right procedure as they diverted their waste trucks to Nkumba, pledged to abide by what had been agreed upon and thanked the authorities for allowing them that period as they plan to see where they can have a better dumping site.
He however added that, the waste problem in Kampala is overwhelming, considering the amount of waste that is dumped at Kiteezi daily.
“We first of all thank you for allowing us using the dumpsite for the meantime but allow me bring this to your attention that, on a daily basis waste trucks deposit 1500 tons of waste, – We have so many unlicensed trucks that carry waste in Kiteezi”, says Lukwago
The U-Turn
On 14th. August as trucks made a fleet into Nkumba to dump their waste, thinking all was well, after the Lukwago’s meeting with Katabi townsccouncil’s chairperson Ronald Kalema, the mayor of Entebbe Fabrice Rulinda, and some members of his council went to the dumping site and instantly stopped the trucks from operating as earlier agreed in the Monday meeting.
Rulinda noted that, he had no official communication from KCCA seeking permission to start using their dumping site in Nkumba and secondly, the 14 hectares dumping site is small and in bad shape and therefore, allowing in more waste will mean additional pollutants into the wetland and lake that touch base with the site.
“We don’t want to carry the problems that happened in Kiteezi, to also happen here – Our dumping site is right next to the swamp or water body and it’s already not health for the environment. We are looking for solutions that are long lasting, so as we look for the solutions, we don’t want to adopt other people’s problems”, asserted Rulinda.
History of Nkumba Dumping site
In 2007, Entebbe municipality acquired this 14 hectares piece of land from the Late Edmond Nkalubo Ssebugwawo in NKumba , Katabi to town council, to start using it as a dumping site for the municipality’s generated waste – The same dumping site, also serves Katabi, parts of Kajjansi and Ndejje town councils ‘populations.
Ever since its establishment, the site has been a blessing in disguise to some people who rely on it for survival through sorting waste and later selling it off to factories for recycling and reuse – this activity supports more than 200 people, majority of which are women.
They collect right from wasted food which they feed their piggery on, plastics in all forms, but mostly plastic bottles and polythene, papers, metals and glasses. These are washed direct in the wetland and packed for transportation to the recycling centres.
This dumping site also earned itself a local name; ‘Ku Air’, literally meaning at the Air, a short description of the site with waste from the Airport – the waste from the airport is on market because it comes sorted and clean.
Environmental threat
The site’s touching base with the wetland that also connects direct to Lake Victoria greatly threatens lives beyond those of human beings who use the waters of the lake and have gardens close, to the wildlife both in water and on land.
According to Emmanuel Mukisa a conservation expert, he says, wetlands act as kidneys, because they filter and purify water, but they get failed if they aren’t in good health – He adds that polluted waters in wetlands carry dangerous invisible metals like lead, which if consumed by humans through plants that absorb them or directly through the water, can cause cancer.
Mukisa notes that the most important aspect of waste management is sorting, because this guides on proper disposal.
Way forward for Nkumba dumping site
A Feasibility Analysis and Environment, Social Impact Assessment carried out by Ardent Services International Limited, on behalf of Entebbe Municipality in 2022, reviewed the need for solid waste management in the area, assessed public awareness and education on solid waste management, assessed the quantity and composition of wastes, and recommended that a standard solid waste management facility be constructed at the dumping site to recycle waste.
Rulinda explained that they have already presented their report to the Minister of Local Government and Solicitor General seeking for government’s hand to have this waste facility developed to manage waste in a better and more sustainable way.
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