Ministry to aid KCCA garbage collection

By Juliet Waiswa and Lawrence Mulondo

THE Ministry of Water and Environment has pledged to support Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) with equipment to help in the managing of garbage collection in Kampala.

Minister Ephrahim Kamuntu while handing over solid waste management and drainage equipment to the KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi at the KCCA head offices said that the equipment will assist KCCA collect garbage which has been dumped carelessly in the drainage.

He also said that his ministry through the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project II (LVEMP-II) will support KCCA in undertaking civil works worth sh3bn. The fund will be used for cleaning up and maintaining 8.7km of Nakivubo Channel for a period of one year.

Kamuntu said that his ministry will also support KCCA acquire some solid waste management and channel dredging equipment at a tune of sh4.2bn. Those efforts according the Kamuntu will boost KCCA to address the issues of solid waste accumulated in the city.

"The city hygiene has improved since the inception of KCCA. In the past the city was flooded with garbage, floods, blue flies all over, which was a sign of dirtiness," Kamuntu commented.

He commended KCCA for improving garbage collection adding that with the recent interventions, solid waste collection in Kampala has increased from 140,000 tons per year in 2011 to 360,000 tons in 2013.

He condemned people who dump and clog the channels.

Musisi warned factory owners for polluting the lake saying that KCCA will continue collecting garbage but residents should ensure that they manage garbage well.

She said KCCA received six tipper trucks with a capacity of 15 tons, two pickups, and will soon receive compactor garbage trucks with a capacity of 20 tons, two backhoe loaders, three excavators and storm water monitoring among others.

The consignment is support extended to KCCA by the International Development Agency, the Global Environment Fund and the Swedish International Development Agency for support towards Lake Victoria Environment Management Project Phase II.