Africa-Press – Uganda. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has raised concerns over the risks posed by the city’s unmanaged waste, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
Speaking at the launch of a new waste-to-energy facility by Homeklin Uganda Limited in Nsambya, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki highlighted the growing challenge of solid waste management in Kampala.
“Kampala, like any rapidly growing city, faces an increasing challenge of managing solid waste. Current data shows that the city generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of waste daily, yet only about 1,300 to 1,500 tonnes are safely collected and disposed of. This means a significant portion of waste remains unmanaged, posing serious risks to public health and the environment,” Buzeki said.
She further warned that the existing waste management and material recovery facility in Buyala could face challenges similar to those recently seen in Kiteezi if not supported by innovative interventions like the new facility.
“Our statistics demonstrate that we cannot rely on dumping any longer. We must engineer our landfills, invest in waste-to-material recovery, and make waste diversion a necessity,” she added, calling on private partners to join KCCA in efforts to divert waste from major landfill sites.
Buzeki also highlighted the potential of organic waste, which makes up approximately 70 to 85 percent of Kampala’s refuse. “This type of waste is highly suitable for conversion into useful products such as biogas, compost, and organic fertilizers. Furthermore, our landfill infrastructure is already under immense pressure, so any intervention that diverts waste from landfills is highly welcome,” she said.
The Facility
Isaac Katureebe, founder and CEO of Homeklin, said the new facility represents a strategic shift for the company—from traditional waste collection to advanced resource recovery. In collaboration with U.S.-based Cenergy Solutions, Homeklin will convert the city’s organic waste into compressed biogas cylinders and liquid biofertilizer.
“Garbage collection and management is a daily service. We manage waste as it is generated. It is a service that will continue as long as people live. We must plan sustainably to manage waste in ways that benefit the community,” Katureebe said.
He added that the project is designed to provide a scalable alternative to charcoal, Uganda’s primary cooking fuel, which has historically contributed to deforestation.
“This project is meant to help our mothers and children, who have been dying from respiratory diseases caused by using harmful cooking fuels. Firewood and charcoal have never been friendly to our people. This technology will address the problem of unsafe energy and save resources that have been used to treat preventable illnesses,” he said.
Katureebe also emphasized the importance of waste sorting. “Previously, we focused only on collection and disposal, collecting waste that was mixed with polythene, stones, and other materials. This is actual waste. But when we begin sorting—biodegradables separated from others—it becomes a resource. We must incentivize our people to sort garbage, because when it is sorted, it can be used to produce energy,” he said.
