After Kiteezi: A Data-Driven Waste Collection Blueprint for Kampala

The Kiteezi landfill collapse in August 2024 exposed the human and environmental consequences of weak waste-management systems. A safer city needs reliable collection, responsible disposal, transparent operations, and the ability to see where service is failing.

Parliament reported that the Kiteezi landfill had been receiving about 2,500 tonnes of Kampala's waste daily before the collapse and that more than 23 people had died by the time of its 13 August 2024 statement. These are historical figures from that statement, not a current estimate of the city's waste stream or a final casualty count.

Start With the Service Map

A useful baseline would map collection zones, transfer points, disposal facilities, service schedules, missed collections, complaints, and verified illegal-dumping reports. KCCA's public waste-management information provides context, but a working routing system would require current operational data from the responsible authorities and contractors.

Improve Visibility Carefully

Fill-level sensors may help at selected public bins, but they are not a substitute for collection coverage, accessible bins, maintenance, and reliable trucks. A pilot should compare sensor readings with manual inspections, measure device uptime, and establish who is responsible when a sensor or communications link fails.

Route Work Around Real Constraints

A vehicle-routing model can consider truck capacity, depot location, road access, traffic, collection windows, waste type, and disposal-site capacity. Dispatchers need to inspect and adjust suggested routes. The system should record completed collections, exceptions, fuel use, and reasons for missed stops so that model recommendations can be evaluated against reality.

Give Residents a Useful Reporting Channel

A low-data web form or messaging channel could accept geotagged reports of overflowing bins and illegal dumping. Submissions need moderation, duplicate handling, privacy controls, and a visible status so residents know whether an issue has been assigned or resolved.

Measure Public-Service Outcomes

Track collection coverage, missed pickups, complaint resolution time, disposal-site compliance, fleet availability, and neighbourhood-level service consistency. Publish definitions and reporting periods so that performance figures can be compared honestly over time.

Technology can make waste operations more visible and manageable. It cannot replace safe disposal infrastructure, adequate funding, enforcement, maintenance, or accountable public administration.