DG's Condolence Message, Interim Appeal for Support to Kiteezi Landfill Victims
As you may have heard, the community in Kiteezi on the outskirts of Kampala was struck by a devastating disaster on Saturday 10th August 2024.
On behalf of Rotary International and Rotarians/Rotaractors in Uganda, I extend heartfelt sympathies to our members and the broader community who are grappling with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of homes and property. May their Souls Rest in Eternal Peace.
In response to this tragedy, government and non-governmental organizations, have mobilized emergency relief, such as food and temporary shelter. However, the number of affected families in dire need of immediate assistance exceeds current resources.
We are therefore appealing to Rotary/Rotaract Clubs to contribute non-food items, including mattresses, blankets, clothing, safe drinking water, and hygiene products, as we formulate a more comprehensive Rotary response.
To support these interim efforts, please direct your donations to the Rotary Club of Kiteezi, which will be the central hub for coordinating our relief efforts. You may contact Prof Maria Nassali Musoke, the President of the Rotary Club of Kiteezi on Tel No: 0772 654 960.
Thank you for your generosity, and for providing much-needed relief to this community in its time of greatest need.
Background
The 36-acre (14-hectare) Kiteezi landfill is the only site serving the whole of Kampala, a city home to an estimated four million people.
The vast landfill site collapsed on Saturday, killing at least 21 people. Fourteen other people were injured. City authorities said the landfill collapsed after a structural failure in waste mass.
Although it was originally designed for smaller volumes of waste, it is said to collect up to 2000 tons of garbage every day. In recent years, experts have cautioned that it presented both environmental and health risks to the community due to increasing volumes and poor waste management.