KAMPALA— The death toll from a devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, has risen to 35, with 12 of the victims being young people, police reported on Friday. The tragic incident occurred late last Friday when a large section of the garbage mound collapsed, burying dozens of homes in the northern outskirts of the city as residents slept.
Since Wednesday, nine additional bodies have been recovered, adding to the previously reported 26 fatalities. Police have noted the difficulty in identifying some of the newly discovered bodies due to their condition.
The landslide followed weeks of torrential rains that have ravaged parts of Uganda, leading to widespread flooding and damage. The Kiteezi landfill, Kampala’s only waste dump for decades, has long been a source of concern for local residents, who have complained about hazardous waste contaminating the environment and posing a significant danger.
This tragedy echoes similar incidents in Africa, such as the 2017 disaster in Ethiopia, where at least 115 people were killed when a poorly managed garbage mound collapsed.
As search efforts continue, at least 28 people are still unaccounted for, leaving the community in deep sorrow and uncertainty.