The waste management crisis in Kampala is not just about individual officials but is deeply rooted in the structure of the institution, says Ruth Kijjambu, the former Town Clerk of Kampala City.
Speaking about the ongoing issues at the Kiteezi landfill, Kijjambu emphasized that removing directors from office will not resolve the larger problem. “Firing the directors will not solve anything,” she stated, pointing to a more systemic issue within the KCCA.
Kiteezi landfill, Kampala’s main waste disposal site, has been overwhelmed by the city’s growing waste output. According to Kijjambu, the directors of KCCA had already informed the government about the deteriorating state of the landfill but did not receive the necessary funding or alternative solutions to address the problem.
“If they reported the current state of Kiteezi to the government and did not receive funding or alternative solutions, then the fault lies elsewhere,” Kijjambu remarked, suggesting that the issue lies with the government’s response to KCCA’s pleas for help.
The former Town Clerk’s comments highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackling Kampala’s waste management challenges. While individual accountability may be important, Kijjambu’s statements suggest that the root causes of the problem are institutional and require long-term planning and support from higher levels of government.
The Kiteezi landfill has been under scrutiny for years, as it struggles to manage the city’s rapidly increasing waste. The site, which was initially designed to serve a smaller population, is now overwhelmed, creating health and environmental concerns for nearby communities.
Residents and environmentalists have repeatedly called for urgent action, but Kijjambu’s remarks suggest that the city’s waste management woes are a symptom of a deeper institutional problem that needs to be addressed at the national level.
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