A tragic landslide at a landfill in Kiteezi, in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, has claimed at least 30 lives, including two children, with many others still missing.
This disaster has unfolded since the collapse of the landfill last Saturday, which buried people, homes, and livestock under massive amounts of waste. As of Wednesday, the Uganda Police Force reported the recovery of six more bodies, including a three-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
The Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, previously confirmed a death toll of 26 and noted that 39 individuals, including residents and garbage collectors, were still unaccounted for.
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The search for survivors continues amid heavy rainfall, with excavators working tirelessly to clear the enormous piles of rubbish. Meanwhile, approximately 120 people are currently taking shelter in a nearby school, and it’s estimated that the landslide has engulfed 33 homes.
Kampala's city mayor, Erias Lukwago, has labeled the incident a "national disaster" and warned that many more people could still be trapped under the debris. Established in 1996, the landfill has long been a concern due to the risks associated with its overflowing waste.
President Yoweri Museveni has directed the army’s special forces to assist in the rescue operations and has ordered compensation for the victims’ families. Each family of the deceased will receive five million Ugandan shillings ($1,300), while those injured will receive one million shillings ($270).
Residents, however, are expressing anger towards the authorities, accusing them of neglecting the landfill's known risks. Local community leader Abubaker Semuwemba Lwanyaga criticized the government for not relocating residents and compensating them before the disaster occurred.
This tragedy follows a series of severe weather events in East Africa, including recent deadly landslides in Ethiopia, which claimed around 250 lives.
