As the response team continues with the heavy work at Kiteezi Landfill, the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has  asked the government to set up a Rapid Response Unit with background training and well-equipped to handle disasters of that magnitude.

UPC argues that the delays in rescuing the missing bodies speak volumes to lack of capacity by the Government which also poses a health challenge in the
community and neighboring areas.

While addressing the press conference on Wednesday, UPC spokesperson Sharon Ayat Arach warned the government especially the line Ministry of Water and Environment, and key stakeholders like Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) that dumping waste for the sake of it without considering garbage recycling is an environmental and
health disaster in the making that puts people’s lives on the line.

“Our challenge of garbage collection moves hand in hand with the population
growth and development in cities, towns, trading centers, and slums hence the need to be conscious of the challenges of waste management and disposal”, she said.

Arach has hinted that science and technology should be applied appropriately when dealing with
garbage collection and emphasize recycling to produce products like fertilizers,pavers and bio-gas which already have a market in the country and region.

However, this requires serious research and benchmarking as well as heavy investment by both the government and private sector.

“We need to refocus this experience of Black Saturday into proper waste
management and say never shall we go through the same again. As we join the
affected families to mourn the lost beloved ones who perished and sympathize with those on medical attention, we feel the financial assistance given to thevictims of this disaster is merely a drop in the ocean! Lives have been lost, people injured and need medication, and others homeless. So realistically, let the assistance vary depending on the need at hand”Arach noted.

UPC has also asked authorities to provide safety measures to workers who are on rescue missions not to encounter occupational health and safety should be a priority.

Arach has stressed that It would be an unfortunate tragedy and negligence to lose people in the line of duty as was the case during the fight against Covid-19.

UPC therefore has called for the provision of enough quality protective gear to our front liners and the protection of their (workers’) rights
in the waste management sector such as the right to collective bargaining and a healthy working environment.

In an era of massive unemployment, proper waste management can be one of the sustainable solutions towards the drive of job creation, because of assured of a regular supply of garbage whose by-products have ready market hence employability.