A massive fire erupted this morning at the Kiteezi landfill, which has been closed for some time, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. The blaze triggered an immediate emergency response from city officials, fire authorities, and emergency teams.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, together with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director and technical teams, swiftly arrived at the scene to assist in firefighting efforts. Police fire brigades and emergency responders battled the flames, with concerns mounting over the potential dangers of the fire.
Authorities suspect that methane gas combustion beneath the surface of the landfill could be the cause of the fire. Methane buildup is a common risk in aging and overburdened dumpsites like Kiteezi, where waste has been improperly managed for years.
Lukwago voiced urgent concerns, warning that without swift intervention, the fire could lead to a catastrophic event, even a “volcano-like explosion.” He stated, “Right now, we are at the closed Kiteezi dumpsite for emergency response to the mysterious fire at the garbage mountain top, believed to stem from methane combustion underneath.”
To address the fire, fire brigade experts recommended using a murrum dosing method, which is more effective than water. However, the necessary equipment, such as murrum conveyor belts, was not available. Despite this, the teams agreed to use mechanical methods to combat the fire in hopes of averting a larger disas
The Kiteezi landfill, once Kampala’s primary dumpsite, has been a mounting environmental and public safety concern. Originally designed to handle much smaller amounts of waste, the landfill quickly surpassed its capacity, leading to hazardous waste management practices and the dangerous accumulation of methane gas beneath the surface.
In August 2024, a tragic collapse at the site claimed multiple lives, sparking calls for improved waste management practices in the city. Although the landfill was officially closed following the incident, the risks persist, particularly with the ongoing threat of methane pockets igniting and causing explosions.
Experts have long warned that the landfill is prone to fires and explosions due to its vast amount of decomposing waste and lack of proper gas management systems. Methane, a highly flammable byproduct of organic waste decomposition, accumulates in landfills and, if not vented properly, can lead to devastating fires or underground explosions.
