Tragedy in Uganda as Landfill Collapses

At least 24 people have died following the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda, which occurred on Friday. Rescuers are continuing their search through the debris, with reports indicating that among the deceased are at least four children. The landfill, which has been deemed "full" for years, receives hundreds of waste disposal trucks daily and is often frequented by scavengers, including women and children seeking recyclable materials. The collapse is believed to have been exacerbated by heavy rainfall, although the exact circumstances remain unclear. Kampala's city authority has attributed the disaster to a "structural failure in waste mass." Irene Nakasiita, a spokesperson for the Uganda Red Cross, expressed concerns that hopes of finding more survivors are dwindling, as ongoing rainfall hampers rescue efforts. The precarious conditions of the landfill, located on a steep slope in a low-income area, have raised questions about the safety of nearby residents, many of whom have built homes in close proximity to the site. In response to the tragedy, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the landfill's collapse. He questioned why people were allowed to live near such a hazardous area, emphasizing the dangers posed by the waste and effluent from the site. Despite plans to relocate waste disposal operations outside the city, these initiatives have not materialized since 2016, leaving the community vulnerable to such disasters.