Tragic Landslide at Kampala's Kiteezi Dump Claims 13 Lives Amid Rescues

A devastating landslide at Kampala's Kiteezi landfill in Uganda has claimed 13 lives, with more potentially trapped. Rescuers continue to dig through the debris following heavy rains. The Kiteezi site, long criticized for hazardous waste, has faced similar incidents as other poorly managed dumps in Africa.

A devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda, has resulted in 13 fatalities, with rescue operations ongoing as more victims are feared to be trapped. The tragedy unfolded late Friday after heavy rain caused a large chunk of garbage to break off, crushing homes.

Initially, the Kampala Capital City Authority reported eight deaths, but updated figures from police spokesperson Patrick Onyango now confirm 13 dead. So far, 14 individuals have been pulled from the debris, and tents have been erected for those displaced by the collapse, according to the Uganda Red Cross.

Kiteezi has been Kampala's primary landfill for decades, becoming a massive mound of waste that residents have long complained about, citing environmental pollution and health hazards. This incident mirrors other fatal garbage dump collapses in Africa, such as the ones in Ethiopia's Addis Ababa and Mozambique's Maputo, claiming dozens of lives in recent years.

(With inputs from agencies.)