By Our Reporter
The Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services on Tuesday evening responded to a fire outbreak at the troubled Kitezi Landfill in Wakiso District, rekindling public anxiety over safety at the site just months after a deadly garbage collapse.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the fire broke out at around 8:00 PM on June 17, 2025, prompting swift action following alerts from concerned members of the public.
“Our dedicated team was able to promptly contain and extinguish the fire. Fortunately, no casualties were registered during the incident,” ASP Owoyesigyire said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.
Despite the successful containment, police have urged the public to avoid the area, citing potential hazards still present at the site.
“We continue to caution members of the public to stay away from the landfill site, as it remains potentially hazardous even after the fire has been put out,” Owoyesigyire added.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze, and more details are expected as forensic analysis and eyewitness accounts are reviewed.
A Site Marked By Tragedy
Tuesday night’s fire comes less than a year after the landfill was the scene of one of the country’s worst waste management disasters. On August 10, 2024, a massive garbage collapse at Kitezi buried nearby houses, leaving dozens dead and property destroyed in what was later described as a preventable tragedy.
That incident triggered a criminal investigation that led to the arrest of top Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials, including Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, her former deputy David Luyimbazi, and the then-Director of Public Health, Dr. Daniel Okello. The trio faced accusations of gross negligence and dereliction of duty after allegedly ignoring repeated warnings over the landfill’s deteriorating condition.
The arrests sent shockwaves through the capital and drew attention to long-standing concerns over KCCA’s waste management strategies and environmental safety.
The latest fire has reignited public debate over the safety and future of the Kitezi facility, which serves as the primary dumping site for all of Kampala’s waste. Environmentalists and local leaders have in the past demanded that the government decommissions the landfill and invests in safer, more sustainable waste management solutions.
Meanwhile, police and KCCA officials are expected to work jointly on the latest investigation, which may provide critical insights into whether structural vulnerabilities or human factors contributed to the fire.
As the probe continues, the public is being urged to cooperate with authorities and report any suspicious activity around the landfill area.
“This should be another wake-up call. We cannot afford to lose more lives due to poor planning or delayed action,” said one concerned resident of the nearby Kasangati community.
For now, the Kitezi Landfill remains both a vital and volatile site—central to the city’s waste disposal needs, yet increasingly emblematic of Kampala’s complex struggle with urban growth, accountability, and public safety.