Author: Simone Schlindwein
Tragedy Strikes in Uganda: Massive Garbage Landfill Landslide Recently, Uganda was hit by a devastating tragedy that claimed the lives of at least 35 people due to a massive garbage landslide caused by torrential rains. The incident occurred at the Kiteezi landfill near Kampala, where a large chunk of waste broke off, burying several homes in its path. Following the disaster, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni demanded answers and compensation for the victims’ families. The landfill, which has been a longstanding issue, lacked effective waste management and posed a threat to nearby residents. Local resident Proscovia Nabafu, one of the survivors,…
Tragedy Strikes Uganda: Massive Garbage Landslide Claims 35 Lives Recent torrential rains in Uganda have led to a devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill on the outskirts of Kampala, resulting in the loss of at least 35 lives. The landslide, triggered by a large chunk breaking off the waste mountain, engulfed homes in a residential area. Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago declared the incident a “national disaster,” emphasizing the risks associated with overflowing waste at the site. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has promised financial compensation to the victims’ families, acknowledging the grave oversight that allowed people to live near such a…
In 2001, over 4,000 people were forcefully evicted from their land in Uganda to make way for a coffee plantation leased by German firm Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG). Despite promises of compensation, many families have yet to receive any payment. In 2002, farmers filed a lawsuit against the company and the government. NKG refutes blame, stating the lease was acquired in accordance with Ugandan law. While a legal settlement was reached in 2013, disputes over compensation continue. With pressure from the German government, a compensation offer was presented in 2017 but was postponed due to the pandemic. In April 2021,…
In 2001, a German coffee firm, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG), evicted over 4,000 people from their land in Uganda to make way for a 2,500-hectare coffee plantation. The residents of Kyengeza village in Mubende district were forcefully removed from their ancestral land. The legal battle ensued when farmers sued the government and NKG for compensation in 2002. Despite NKG’s claim of compensating 166 families, many like Scola Namuyanja say they have not received any compensation to this day. After a prolonged legal battle and international pressure, a settlement was reached in April 2021, offering less than €1 million in compensation,…
Struggles of Tanzania’s Maasai Community The Maasai community in Tanzania is facing increasing challenges, with a representative highlighting the dire situation. Heavy rain and impassable roads have led to the deaths of pregnant women in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo. The government’s closure of medical flights and lack of healthcare services are exacerbating the crisis, with plans to expand conservation areas raising further concerns. Amidst Conservation Efforts President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s plan to increase protected lands to 50% of Tanzania’s territory is displacing the Maasai people. Luxury tourism investments are driving out cattle herders and dismantling essential infrastructure like…