Uganda Government advances on waste-to-energy facility

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has commenced preparatory works on a 135-acre land in Ddundu Parish, Mukono District, earmarked for a waste-to-energy facility. According to KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, pre-feasibility studies, including technical surveys, soil, and groundwater tests, have been completed to inform the sizing and design of waste incineration infrastructure.

Kisaka revealed that the land, acquired in 2016 at a cost of Shs5 billion, is legally owned by KCCA with all necessary documentation and title deeds in place. The facility aims to replace the Kiteezi landfill and address Kampala’s waste management challenges.

However, Kisaka noted that the local leadership and community in Mukono have not supported the intended purpose of the land, leading to legal challenges and delayed progress. Continuous engagement is being done to address concerns and ensure community benefits from the project.

Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura reported that KCCA has only 12 garbage trucks, insufficient to collect waste from 60% of Kampala’s population living in informal settlements. She highlighted the need for private sector engagement to address waste collection challenges, particularly in low-income areas.

Kisaka and Nyanjura urged the government to fast-track the waste-to-energy plant solutions and prerequisite licensing for the Ddundu site. They emphasized the need for an up-to-date recycling plant to move away from outdated and unhealthy dump site methods.

The committee chairperson, Medard Sseggona, questioned the lack of cohesion between KCCA’s political and technical wings in addressing the Kiteezi landfill slide. He tasked the KCCA leadership to present details about the investor expected to manage the Ddundu waste and treatment and disposal site.