As Ugandans strive to overcome trauma following the recent tragic incident at Kiteezi in which over 35 people perished, leaving many with injuries, residents of Bajjo cell in Ntaawo ward, Goma division in Mukono Municipality are worried by the illegal dumping site in a wetland within their vicinity.
Residents say the illegal dumping which has been ongoing for over a year has caused a threat to human life, as the garbage gives off a sickening stench, swarms of flies and attracts scavenging birds which soil their roof tops with their excretion making the harvesting of rainwater impossible.
They are especially worried by the sharp piercing smell emanating from fumes from burnt garbage material including toxic substances and medical waste, which they fear could have a dangerous effect on human life.
Talking to Kyagge TV, they said they last week mobilised a local team and impounded a ISUZU Canter lorry registration number UAK 629J which had just dumped garbage, and forced the driver to take it to Mukono Police Station from where Mukono Municipal Environment Officer Robert Masengere has since been pushing to have it released.
Dr. Andrew Muganga, the proprietor of Megasport Recreation Centre within the vicinity, said he has run out of business as clients have deserted his facility just because of the flies and the stinking stench.
“We have made efforts through petitions to attract municipal authorities to pick interest and come to our rescue to no avail,” he said, adding that under the circumstances residents are fearful over a possible outbreak of a communal disease.
Joyce Nakyejwe, a chef at Megasport Recreation Centre said she has many times brought food ordered by her customers, only to find they have been dispelled by the stench.
Abubaker Musiho, a resident, said they wrote a letter to the Town Clerk and NEMA authorities, and later made physical follow up over the matter, adding that however, all their efforts did not attract any reaction.
He said they are considering dragging to court municipal authorities for allegedly abetting illegal dumping in a wetland and in a residential area, and thereby putting human life at stake.
And the Defence Secretary for Bajjo cell, Godfrey Mayombwe said the garbage has blocked the flow of Njogezi stream, forcing its water to change course and flow towards the residential area.
Mayombwe was sad to note that although NEMA staff are fast to uproot human food planted in wetlands, they have turned a deaf ear to the illegal garbage dumping, and wondered whether human food is more dangerous than garbage.
When approached in his office, Mukono Municipality Town Clerk, Francis Byabagambi denied ever having received a petition to that effect from Bajjo residents, and added that Mukono is the only town in the outskirts of Kampala in which KCCA was okeyed to dump its garbage at Katikkolo landfill after the closure of Kiteezi landfill following the tragic incident, and that whoever dumps elsewhere is committing a crime.
On allegations of a municipal official indulging in illegal dumping, Byabagambi advised locals to take up the matter with police, promising to be a state witness if anyone is arraigned in court. ‘Police know the law and no matter who is involved, I am ready to testify against any perpetrators of illegal dumping’, the Town Clerk said.
We inquired to hear from the Mukono Municipality Environment Officer, George Masengere who expressed ignorance over the presence of the illegal dumping site in a wetland at Bajjo, and added that whoever is dumping there is committing a crime.
Masengere said it is possible the dumpers took advantage of the scuffle that was generated by the debate to dump in Mukono’s Katikkolo by KCCA or not, and went behind the municipal authorities’ back and started the illegal dumping site.
He disowned the impounded vehicle saying it belongs to an association of plastic collectors who had actually gone to collect plastics but were not dumping.
“By labouring to intervene after the impounding of the vehicle which the residents alleged was dumping garbage, I only wanted to assist them to have their vehicle released because they are legally operating under recognition by the council,” he said.
Masengere also disclosed that with immediate effect, the dumping was being halted forthwith, and that the plastic buyers were being stopped because he noted, “dumpers are attracted by a ready market for the plastic and other useful materials extracted out of garbage.”
Juma Kategaya, the Treasurer for Katikkolo Workers and Sorters Association who are behind the plastic material collection from dumping sites, showed our reporters their impounded vehicle still loaded with the plastic bottles which is up to date parked in the Mukono police yard.
Kategaya said they have an MOU with the municipal council to strictly collect only plastic materials, and added that they have restricted themselves to the agreed upon terms of the MOU.
“Our workers were arrested alongside the vehicle but they were released on police bond and we are now finalising agreement with the police to release the vehicle as well”, Kategaya said.
And residents James Okello, Patrick Okello and Lovinsa Kyayonka all concurred that diseases related to unhygienic conditions have sprung up in their area.
