Residents of Kirengyere village in Kyanamira sub-county, Kabale District, are gripped by fear following the recent Kiteezi landfill tragedy, which claimed over 34 lives and left many injured. The local dumping site in Kirengyere, eerily similar to Kiteezi, has sparked concerns that a similar catastrophe could unfold in their community.
The Kirengyere
garbage landfill, operational since 2010, serves as both a waste disposal site
and a burial ground for unclaimed bodies. Upon arrival, visitors are
immediately struck by the overwhelming stench and the presence of swarms of
houseflies. The site has become a significant health hazard, posing a constant
threat to the well-being of nearby residents.
During the rainy
season, the situation deteriorates further. Filthy water from the garbage piles
seeps into homes, and houseflies swarm the area, increasing the risk of
infections among the villagers. Peace Kagurusi, Jane Karukwazi, and Sharon
Orikyere, who live near the landfill, describe the unbearable conditions,
particularly when the rains amplify the foul odor.
The residents,
haunted by the memory of the Kiteezi disaster, fear that poor waste management
and the burial of unclaimed bodies at their local site could lead to a similar
tragedy in Kabale. Their anxiety is heightened by the frequent exhumation of
shallow graves by dogs, further exacerbating their worries.
In response to
these growing concerns, Kirengyere residents are urgently calling on local
authorities to take immediate action. "We are struggling with houseflies
and contaminated water invading our homes. We've heard that the municipal
council has purchased land elsewhere, and we implore them to relocate the
garbage to that new site," the residents urge.
Andrew Beija, the
health inspector for Kabale Municipality, acknowledges the gravity of the
situation. He admits that the landfill is nearing its capacity, and municipal
leaders are concerned that it may become unusable within the next two to three
years. Beija also reveals that there are plans to acquire larger land further
from the town to address the issue.
As fear and
frustration grow among the residents of Kirengyere, their pleas for
intervention become increasingly desperate. The critical question remains: will
their calls for action be heeded in time, or will they suffer the dire
consequences of neglect?