Scores of people are feared dead after a section of the Kiteezi Landfill, managed by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), collapsed this morning, burying houses, livestock, and residents under tons of waste.

City authorities have attributed the disaster to a structural failure in the landfill’s waste mass. While local communities have confirmed the retrieval of several bodies from the site, KCCA officials have yet to officially record any fatalities.

“The extent of the damage is still under assessment. At this time, no fatalities have been officially recorded,” stated the Executive Director of KCCA in a press release. The statement added that KCCA teams, along with other government agencies, are on the ground taking necessary measures to secure the area and prevent further incidents.

The authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected community.

The Kiteezi Landfill, located in Wakiso District, serves as the primary waste disposal site for all five divisions of Kampala. Originally designed to handle smaller volumes of waste, it now collects up to 2,000 tons of garbage daily.

In recent years, experts have raised concerns about the landfill, warning that its increasing volume and inadequate waste management practices pose significant environmental and health risks to the surrounding community.