The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director, Sharifah Buzeki, has warned that all private garbage collection companies operating in the city risk being summoned to explain what she described as persistent poor service delivery.
Buzeki said several companies contracted by the authority were failing to meet their obligations despite residents paying the required monthly fees.
She was speaking to journalists during a routine Weyonje clean-up exercise in Lugala zone, Lubaga division, accompanied by the director for public health and environment, Dr Sarah Zalwango, and KCCA spokesperson Araali Nuwabiine.
“I want to thank the residents of Lugala for supporting the Weyonje clean-ups. We have also received complaints about poor service from some of the garbage collection companies we contracted, and we are taking these concerns seriously,” Buzeki said.
During an inspection in the area, Buzeki noted delays by some service providers, including Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, in collecting household waste, even though residents had complied with the monthly fee of Shs50,000.
She intervened after a resident, Teddy Birungi, reported that she had paid for garbage collection but had not received the service.
Jamil Kisubi, an inspector with Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, admitted the delay and attributed it to traffic congestion caused by recent election activities.
He assured the executive director that the company would immediately improve service delivery and work closely with KCCA during the clean-up exercise.
Buzeki said the authority would this year intensify community engagement under the Weyonje programme, noting that residents play a critical role in waste management.
“Communities must be part of the solution. Poor disposal practices increase the cost of garbage collection for the authority,” she said.
The KCCA team also inspected ongoing road works on the Sentema–Masanafu road, which is being upgraded by China Communications Construction Company.
Buzeki questioned project engineers over delays in desilting drainage channels and urged them to adhere strictly to contract timelines. She instructed the contractor to immediately address the concerns raised, an order the site engineer pledged to implement.
On construction safety, Buzeki warned property owners and engineers against ignoring safety standards at building sites, saying non-compliance could lead to approval cancellations.
“This is a serious risk to the public, especially during emergencies,” she said.
The enforcement drive comes amid renewed focus on service delivery at City Hall following recent changes in the city’s political leadership, which saw the election of NUP’s Ronald Balimwezo as Lord Mayor replacing Erias Lukwago who had served in the position for 15 years.
