Assessing Solid Waste Management in Kampala City, Uganda: A Case Study of Nakawa Urban Division

Abstract

About 2.01 billion tons of solid waste were produced in 2016 across the globe. And by 2050, the waste generated in various parts of the world would have increased by 70% due in part to the rapid growth of towns and cities. In addition, municipalities generate 40% of the waste and collect only 20% to 25%. Of equal importance, 75% to 80% of the waste generated in municipalities is disposed of in the open dumps. Enshrined in the KCC ( Kampala City Council, 2000 ) Act Section IV (2), the Kampala City solid waste management ordinance mandates urban division councils to collect generated solid waste in the region. The Act also placed emphasis on the frequency of solid waste collection and gave authority to the division councils to determine collection fees using different methods. City divisions in Kampala including Nakawa division have had poor solid waste management (SWM) facilities as well as strategies and practices characterized by poor littering of waste leading to public health risks and diseases caused by vectors and rodents. The main objective of the study was to assess the current status of the waste collection facilities, practices, technologies and strategies adopted in Nakawa urban division, in view of the region’s recent experience and development. The study heavily relied on review of secondary data comprising of government reports, online data sources as well as research papers and published journal articles to generate more evidence to support the study findings. Face-to face interviews were also conducted with Nakawa division technical staff, policy-makers, community leaders, and private solid waste operators. Results show that SWM facilities used in Nakawa urban division are still of poor quality with weak rusty metal and too small to store huge amount of waste generated daily by the city residents. Due to poor support facilities, most of the solid waste end up being dumped just outside of the garbage skips hence littering the waste collection sites. A large proportion of waste is not re-used and waste sorting is rare making it difficult to re-cycle or compost. Findings highlight the need for Nakawa Division to improve waste management with respect to facilities, methods, technologies and strategies used. Specifically, the city authorities need to enforce Kampala City Council (KCC) ordinance 2000 to avoid illegal dumping of solid waste, monitor performance of private and public waste collectors as well as regulating the fees paid for waste collection by the private firms. It is also important to increase the city’s financing portfolio to support in upgrading and expanding existing SWM facilities, such as landfills, gazetted local collection sites as well as procurement of effective transportation equipment such as garbage trucks. Last but not least, the success of solid waste management programmes in Nakawa Division will depend on the efforts of the city managers to increase the levels of community participation and involvement as well as the sensitization and education of the city residents on their roles and responsibilities in addressing this intractable urban challenge.