Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has rolled out an overhauled municipal waste collection model to eliminate illegal dumpsites and expand daily garbage evacuation across the capital.
The strategy precedes the National Cleaning Day slated for August 29, 2026.
KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki announced that the capital generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of garbage daily, overwhelming existing municipal infrastructure.
To close the operational deficit, KCCA has contracted nine private waste concessionaires assigned to dedicated city zones.
Eight private collectors have already secured operating permits, providing a joint clearance capacity of 1,469 tonnes per day.
A ninth collector will add 200 tonnes of daily capacity, boosting the city's combined daily evacuation threshold to 2,169 tonnes alongside KCCA’s internal 500-tonne capacity.
The strategic shift follows Cabinet directives issued during an inter-agency preparatory meeting chaired by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on August 12, 2026.
The central government has financed an initial fleet of 10 refuse trucks and funded Phase One development of the Buyala integrated waste management and material recovery facility for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
Under the new regulatory framework, property owners and institutions will pay standardized disposal fees under the polluter-pays principle.
Households in designated informal settlements will pay Shs1,000 per 50-kilogramme bag.
Standard residences and commercial entities, including retail shops, corporate offices, restaurants, and shopping arcades, will pay Shs3,000 per 50-kilogramme bag.
Religious institutions, education centers, and places of worship will pay Shs40,000 per truckload.
KCCA will continue managing and funding waste removal in public taxi parks, government markets, public health centers, and municipal schools.
The authority has also introduced a mandatory "Bring-to-Truck" collection system requiring residents to hand over sorted organic and inorganic waste directly to scheduled collection trucks.
KCCA has outlawed uncertified waste handlers operating handcarts, three-wheelers, and bicycles to prevent roadside littering and illegal dumping in drainage channels.
Division Town Clerks, ward administrators, local council leaders, and solid waste inspectors will coordinate waste schedules and enforce household compliance across Kampala’s 857 villages.
