In an effort to solve Uganda’s urban waste disposal challenge, government Is considering overhauling its waste management system through a new National Waste Management Policy that puts citizens at the centre of transformation.
The policy, now in its final stages, seeks to turn waste into a valuable resource while addressing decades-old challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, weak enforcement, limited funding, and overlapping mandates among government agencies.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, says the draft policy is set to be presented to Cabinet for approval.
“The policy is designed to streamline operations and close critical gaps in the waste management sector,”Kumumanya said, adding that the reforms would pave the way for a sustainable, resource-driven approach to handling the country’s waste.
The move follows a Cabinet directive issued after the Kiteezi landfill disaster, which exposed the urgency of reforming Uganda’s waste disposal systems.
Local Government Minister Raphael Magezi, speaking at a parallel validation meeting, urged Ugandans to take ownership of the change process.
“While government and local authorities have their part, lasting solutions depend heavily on public behavior,” Magezi stressed.
Magezi emphasized that public involvement is a cornerstone of the policy, warning that without it, the ambitious reforms could fall short.
Kcca waste management interventions
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has secured a US$1 million grant from the Government of Japan through UN-Habitat to address urgent environmental and safety risks by decommissioning the Kiteezi landfill in a bid to modernize the city’s waste management system and infrastructure.
KCCA Executive Director Hajjati Sharifah Buzeki described the intervention as one of the city’s biggest victories in the past year. She said the funds will be used to mitigate immediate hazards posed by the landfill, particularly the risk of gas emissions, leachate contamination, and steep unstable slopes.
The initial response will focus on seven acres of the site, with drainage improvements aimed at protecting nearby communities. Buzeki explained that this effort is part of a broader transition towards a modern, integrated waste management system.
KCCA has also secured 230 hectares of land in Buyala, where it plans to build a state-of-the-art waste management and resource recovery facility. This facility, she said, will be a game changer for Kampala, moving the city away from reactive garbage dumping towards a holistic approach that includes waste reduction, recycling, energy conversion, and safe final disposal. She emphasized that waste management must begin at the point of generation and not just focus on final disposal. In relation to the aftermath of the August