The recent collapse of the Kiteezi Landfill has sparked widespread controversy in the country, leaving many citizens with more questions than answers. Concerns have been raised about why the city authority and other stakeholders allowed the landfill to remain operational despite it exceeding its capacity. Additionally, questions have surfaced about the absence of proper waste management and recycling systems to reduce the enormous volumes of garbage at the site.
The tragedy, which claimed over 20 lives and left hundreds displaced and homeless, has brought to light issues that had long been hidden from public view.
Denis Mugagga, a Ugandan musician based in the UK and a member of the Ganda Boys (formerly known as Da Twins), has disclosed that their efforts to introduce an eco-friendly waste management technology in Uganda were thwarted. The Ganda Boys had successfully convinced a group of investors to bring this technology to the country, which they believed could have prevented such a disaster.
In a video posted on their TikTok account, Mugagga explained, “In 2014, through our Ganda Foundation, we initiated a project to bring in investors with a technology called ‘Waste to Energy.’ This technology was designed to incinerate waste in Kampala City, generating electricity that could be added to the national grid, ultimately reducing power tariffs for ordinary Ugandans.”
He continued, “We worked closely with Hon. Dorothy Mpiima, the former Buikwe District Woman MP and our foundation coordinator in Uganda. She had the opportunity to present our idea to the President, who warmly welcomed it and even penned a letter to the Ministry of Energy, directing them to implement the program. But unfortunately, that’s where it all ended.”
Mugagga expressed his deep sympathy for those who lost their loved ones in the landfill collapse, stating that if their idea had been implemented, the tragedy at Kiteezi could have been avoided. He also urged officials in both the Buganda Government and the Central Government to stop blocking innovative ideas proposed by Ugandans in the diaspora, as these ideas could significantly contribute to the country’s development.
After the failure to implement the Waste to Energy technology in Uganda, Mugagga revealed that the project was successfully implemented in Copenhagen, Denmark. The technology now boasts an energy efficiency of 107%, providing low-carbon electricity to 550,000 people and district heating to 140,000 households in Denmark’s capital region.
Waste to Energy (WtE) technology converts garbage into green electricity, heat, or biogas, contributing to efficient waste management and reducing landfill volumes.
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