A landslide at a landfill in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, has claimed the lives of eight people, according to city authorities on Saturday.
The disaster occurred late Friday after heavy rains caused sections of the Kiteezi landfill to collapse, burying nearby houses. Local media reported the incident as a result of prolonged rainfall.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) confirmed that government and Red Cross teams were actively searching the site, with 14 people successfully rescued so far.
“Tragically, eight individuals have been found deceased, including six adults and two children. Rescue efforts are ongoing,” KCCA stated on its official X account.
The Kiteezi landfill, which has served as Kampala’s main garbage dump for decades, has grown into a massive hill. Residents have long raised concerns about the hazardous waste from the site, which they say pollutes the environment and endangers nearby communities.
Footage from NTV Uganda showed people navigating the landfill debris, which had crushed part of a house, while images from UBC Uganda captured an excavator working to clear the garbage.
Uganda has been experiencing heavy rains in recent weeks, leading to flooding and landslides, though this incident marks the first reported fatalities.
