By George Bukenya
Kamapala Capital City Authority has been boosted with a grant of US $ 1m (UGX 3.6billion) as decommissioning of Kiteezi garbage landfill kick starts, some victims of the August, 2024 tragedy have been compensated so far while properties of others have also been valued pending compensation.
The acquisition of funds for decommissioning of Kiteezi Land fill was announced by the Authorities Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki while speaking to reporters at Uganda Media Centre where she gave an update on the status of several development projects. She said that this fund was secured from Japan through UN Habitat.
“ We have commenced the decommissioning of Kiteezi garbage landfill using grants obtained from government of Japan through UN Habitat to help us mitigate challenges of high risky areas,’’ Buzeki announced.
According to Buzeki, a total of 142 people were affected and atleat 34 people lost their lives by the garbage slide but 18 families whose houses were destroyed have been compensated while 43 households properties have been valued by the government valuer and costs received by KCCA pending Ministry of Finance’s releasing of the required funds for their compensation.
She also re-affirmed that KCCA has also secured 23O hectares of land in Buyala in Mpigi District where a modern waste management project will be set up.
Buzeki also said that several road construction are ongoing using funds from central government and UGX 550 billion have been budgeted to reconstruct and rehabilitate over 84 kilometres in the next three years and DOTT Services Limited is one the companies contracted to work on some roads in phase I were 47.1 km are planned to be completed this financial year.
Given the excellent collection of revenue, Buzeki is also very optimistic that government will increase on the budget allocation to KCCA. In last financial year the Authority managed to collect a hopping UGX 127.6 billion surpassing its target of 120.4 billion which accounted for 106%.
“ Apart from enhancing garbage collection , we are also beautifying the city through plant trees and flowers and so far we have planted more than 8,000 trees in schools and health centres,’’ She said.
“ We have embarked on community campaign to change the mindset of people who live and those who work in Kampala through ‘Wejonge’ program carried out in the different divisions , it is not a show bez activity,’’.
She also urged the city dwellers to have a shared responsibility as far as keeping the city clean and appreciating the green environment that is being put in place by helping to arrest those who destroy it.