Uganda Says Over 1,000 People Affected By Garbage Dump Landslide, Death Toll Rises to 24

KAMPALA, (Xinhua) – Ugandan authorities said on Tuesday that more than 1,000 people have been affected by the landslide of the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala’s Kawempe Division, and the death toll has reached 24.

Lillian Aber, minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, told the parliament that the landslide caused damages and affected communities in the three villages of Lusanja, Kitetika, and Kiteezi.

“The affected persons are estimated to be over 1,000 from all the three affected villages. The number of displaced persons registered at the temporary shelter by the Office of the Prime Minister and Uganda Red Cross Society is 56 households so far,” Aber told lawmakers who earlier paid tribute to the lives lost in the Saturday morning disaster.

“We are going to continue providing food and all the requirements as the government looks into the details of compensation,” she said.

She said the government is working hard to find solutions to waste management through alternative options like incineration, recycling, and power generation.

“As a preventive and mitigation measure, the government is in the process of opening up new landfills in Menvu, Nansana, and Busumamura in Kira Municipality in Wakiso District,” said Aber.

At least two more bodies were recovered from the garbage site on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the number of those killed to 24, according to police.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday called for an investigation into the incident, saying people should not have been allowed to live near the landfill. He directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to coordinate the removal of all households in the zone.