Once a bustling hub where hundreds survived by salvaging and selling recyclable waste, Kiteezi now feels abandoned. Many families fled after the collapse, leaving behind empty homes and broken livelihoods. Those who remain live under a cloud of fear and economic hardship. Before the disaster, scavenging electronics and plastics could earn enough to feed a family; today, the same work brings in only a few thousand shillings a week—barely enough to survive.

Lives Displaced, Health at Risk

When the garbage mountain gave way, over 350 people were forced into makeshift shelters on a nearby football pitch. The camps were overcrowded, poorly equipped, and quickly became hotspots for disease. Outbreaks of diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and other illnesses spread rapidly, hitting children and pregnant women the hardest. Psychosocial support and antenatal care arrived only gradually, leaving many to struggle alone with grief and trauma.

Government Response and Accountability

Landfill Decommissioned & Waste Strategy Redrawn
Authorities moved to permanently close Kiteezi. A 200-meter buffer zone was enforced, the unstable garbage mound was reinforced, and plans began to open new landfill sites in Menvu, Nansana, and Busumamura. The government also committed to shifting waste management towards recycling and incineration.

Relief Funds and Compensation
A USh 99 billion relief package was announced: USh 16 billion for rent support—about USh 2 million per affected family—and USh 83 billion for land purchases or rebuilding support. Each family that lost a loved one received USh 5 million, while injured survivors were given USh 1 million.

Demands for Justice and Better Governance
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago condemned the slow relocation process and the “inhumane” conditions in camps, urging urgent and dignified resettlement. President Museveni dismissed several KCCA officials over alleged negligence and ordered criminal investigations into the disaster.

Reflections and Unfinished Business

The Kiteezi landfill collapse remains both a human tragedy and a wake-up call. A year later, the silence of its empty streets tells a story of loss that numbers alone cannot capture. Displaced families continue to rebuild their lives, though for many, recovery is still far away. Yet out of the grief has emerged a stronger resolve—for accountability, justice, and safer, more sustainable cities for the future.