Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Katabi Town Council has temporarily allowed garbage from Kampala City to be disposed of at the Nkumba Bukolwa dumpsite.
On Monday, the town council authorities led by Mayor Roland Kalema blocked trucks from dumping garbage at the dumpsite in Katabi, citing a lack of enough space. This was after the Kiteezi landfill collapsed on Saturday leaving 23 people dead.
However, on Wednesday, the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Katabi council authorities held a closed meeting over the matter.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Kalema said they had agreed with the Lord Mayor to allow the City garbage but for only one month.
“We have today agreed that this is an emergency and we should allow KCCA to dump the garbage here but for only one month. We have also resolved that they should have a water bowser truck to suppress dust,” Kalema said.
Lukwago apologized for ordering garbage to be taken to Katabi before meeting the town council leadership. He said he was misled that Katabi had allowed the City’s garbage to be poured in their area.
“It was an emergency and I was told that Katabi had allowed us to bring our garbage this side. But this was not true and I apologize for that. I have agreed that our team will abide by the conditions that have been set for us. I thank Katabi for allowing us to dispose of the garbage for one month as we find other means,” Lukwago said.
However, Menvu village residents, in Busukuma Sub-county, in Wakiso district where Nansana Municipality and Kira Municipality own 20 and 12 acres of land respectively have vowed not to allow KCCA to dump their garbage before people who were evicted have not been compensated.
James Mugema, and Sulaiman Mpulunguse the residents said that they are not ready to accept KCCA’s garbage. Paul Kalanzi the Menvu Chairperson said they have deployed locals to keep watch of the road and to alert them in case any of KCCA’s trucks takes their garbage. So far two trucks have been blocked by locals of Menvu village.
Ronald Katata the Busukuma Sub-county Chairperson and Kira Municipality Mayor, Julius Mutebi, said KCCA must engage them before they decide to dump garbage in Menvu.
The locals said among the demands they made from Nansana and Kira Municipalities are constructing safe water wells or boreholes and tarmacked roads.
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