Ten kilometers off Mityana road, down a dusty, unmarked path, The Observer team made its way to the Buyala landfill, a site meant to ease Kampala’s waste management crisis.
But as we ventured deeper, the reality of the situation became alarmingly clear. Just four kilometers in, a stench thick as rotten eggs engulfed the air, forcing us to pull out masks. As we crossed Mayanja swamp, the narrow road—seemingly endless—became increasingly lined with scattered heaps of trash.
The landfill’s impact had already spread far beyond its designated borders. Upon arrival, what we had expected to be an empty, desolate dumpsite was instead bustling with hundreds of middle-aged men and women, scouring through waste, collecting plastics for resale at Shs 1,000 per kilo.
Some had even made encampments in the adjacent forest, turning the wasteland into their home. A makeshift eatery stood at the upper edge of the landfill, where the workers could buy meals for Shs 3,000 or less.
The place was swarming with houseflies, their wings buzzing in unison, scattering like cockroaches under a flashlight with every step we took. At first glance, the landfill appeared well-managed, its surface flattened and controlled. But a deeper look revealed the true extent of mismanagement—the trash had piled as high as a two-storey building, its edges forming a cliff-like drop into surrounding wetlands.
At its center, a grader pushed heaps of garbage, unearthing hidden waste as scavengers and marabou storks swarmed in, picking through the debris. Some of the workers, barehanded and even barefoot, sifted through medical waste, broken bottles and rotting food. Spotting our cameras, they threatened to take our equipment if we captured their struggle.
Just beyond the garbage cliffs, a group of children tended to over 30 goats, grazing on land littered with discarded plastic bags and other waste. The adjacent forest, once untouched, had now become a secondary dumping ground, filled with sorted plastics abandoned by collectors.
According to residents, over 90 trucks arrive daily, dumping waste from central Uganda. The vehicles roll in from 5 am to midnight, with some arriving past mid night, waiting in line until morning for registration by the site manager.
A breach of environment laws
Beneath the layers of plastic, discarded tires, syringes, broken hospital equipment, catheters, condoms and glass bottles were visible—all materials prohibited from landfill disposal under Uganda’s national environmental regulations.
For three hours, we saw trucks entering the site. A single man, seated on a chair with a book, briefly recorded their arrival before drivers proceeded to dump waste unchecked.
When KCCA first announced the establishment of Buyala landfill, the project was touted as an opportunity for local employment and a solution to Kampala’s over- flowing waste crisis. But, instead, Buyala’s mismanagement has become a looming environmental disaster, particularly for the Mayanja wetland—a fragile ecosystem now at risk of irreversible damage.
A landfill in wetland
Wetlands act as the kidneys of the environment, filtering pollutants and preventing floods. Building a landfill in a wetland violates local, national and international environmental laws unless strict safety measures are followed.
Environmental regulations mandate a thorough feasibility study to assess the long-term impact of a landfill on the surrounding ecosystem. To prevent toxic leaks into groundwater, a multi-layer liner system made of clay and synthetic materials must be installed.
Additionally, an efficient leachate collection system is necessary to collect, treat and safely dispose of toxic waste runoff. Given the risks associated with methane emissions, a gas collection system should be implemented to prevent potential explosions.
To further protect the environment, buffer zones must be established around the landfill to minimize contamination of the surrounding areas.
Buyala’s failures exposed
Instead of meeting these strict guidelines, Buyala landfill is riddled with violations. The leachate collection system, meant to prevent hazardous liquid waste from contaminating water sources, is poorly designed.
Dark, bubbling pools of toxic liquid seep from the landfill, overflowing during heavy rains and draining directly into the wetland. Despite promises of employment for residents, many now live among the waste, scavenging for recyclables without protective gear.
For just Shs 1,000 per kilo of plastic, they dig through garbage with their bare hands, exposing themselves to serious health risks. The lack of defined landfill boundaries has led to unregulated dumping, with waste spreading into the surrounding forest and swamp. To secure collection points, plastic collectors have pushed trash deeper into the forest, leaving permanent scars on the landscape.
As trucks pass through Mayanja swamp, they shed waste along the road, leaving a trail of plastic debris leading up to the landfill. The swamp—once lush and vibrant—is now clogged with garbage, its waters choked by pollution.
Authorities remain silent
When The Observer team sought responses from KCCA and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), both institutions declined to comment on the landfill’s management.
However, David Kureeba Mutsitsa, a representative from the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), had this to say: “Buyala landfill is a direct violation of Uganda’s environmental regulations. Its location in a wetland, combined with the failure to manage leachate and illegal dumping, poses severe risks to both human and ecological health. If no urgent action is taken, we could be looking at a disaster that will haunt Uganda for generations.”
The Buyala landfill, once envisioned as a modern waste management solution, has instead become an unregulated dumping ground, endangering public health and the environment.
With toxic waste seeping into wetlands, uncontrolled dumping spreading into forests, and local communities forced to scavenge for survival, Buyala is no longer just a landfill—it is a symbol of environmental neglect and failed governance.
A looming disaster or a solution gone wrong?
As Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) takes control of the newly acquired Buyala landfill, environmentalists are raising serious concerns about its long-term sustainability and potential risks to both human health and biodiversity.
The landfill’s location in a wetland has sparked fears of irreversible environmental damage, echoing past waste management failures, such as the Kiteezi landfill crisis. As the Buyala landfill is indeed located in a wetland, it could pose a major environmental catastrophe.
Wetlands play a crucial role in water purification, groundwater re-charge, and biodiversity conservation—all of which would be severely compromised by a waste facility in the area. One of the biggest risks is leachate contamination, the toxic liquid produced when waste decomposes.
If not properly managed, leachate will seep into nearby water bodies, contaminating water sources and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Beyond contamination, the establishment of a landfill in Buyala threatens the loss of crucial wetland biodiversity.
Species such as papyrus, fish and other aquatic organisms could disappear, while air pollution from burning waste and methane emissions would further degrade the environment.
“The wetland’s ability to filter water and recharge underground aquifers will be lost,” warns an environmental expert. “This will not only affect water quality but also lead to long-term ecosystem instability.”
Health risks for nearby communities
For residents living near the landfill, the risks go beyond environmental concerns. The stench and toxic emissions from decomposing waste will pollute the air, leading to respiratory illnesses and worsening conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.
Additionally, if leachate contaminates nearby water sources, residents could face outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases. The accumulation of waste will also create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria.
“Mitigating these risks requires a thorough Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA),” says the expert.
“KCCA must consider the landfill’s proximity to homes, water sources, schools and health facilities before expanding operations.” The local community must also be involved in discussions to ensure that any mitigation measures are socially, environmentally and economically responsive.
Alternative waste management strategies for KCCA
To reduce reliance on landfills, KCCA must embrace a modern and sustainable waste management approach that transforms waste into valuable resources. Recycling and reuse initiatives can create economic opportunities while reducing environmental harm.
Capturing methane from decomposing waste for biogas production provides a clean energy source, while processing organic waste into compost offers farmers an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Holding companies accountable for waste management through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can incentivize waste collection and repurposing.
Additionally, formalizing waste pickers into organized groups can create jobs and improve in- come opportunities in the recycling sector. By adopting these strategies, KCCA can shift from an outdated landfill model to a circular economy that benefits both the environment and local communities.
To prevent another landfill disaster like Kiteezi, KCCA must implement a long-term monitoring and management plan. Conducting thorough Environmental Impact Assessments (ESIA) before establishing waste facilities ensures that environmental risks are properly evaluated. Implementing advanced landfill designs with protective layers can prevent leachate contamination, safeguarding groundwater and nearby ecosystems.
Strict enforcement of waste disposal regulations is necessary to prevent the illegal dumping of hazardous materials.