Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is considering plans to harvest methane gas from the Buyala landfill as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve environmental safety and promote sustainable waste management.
KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Moses Kigenyi said the proposed initiative could help control emissions from decomposing waste while creating opportunities for Uganda to participate in carbon trading.
Kigenyi made the remarks during a visit by Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to the Buyala landfill, where legislators inspected waste management operations and the infrastructure used to control environmental pollution.
He explained that decomposing organic waste produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is also highly flammable and can pose safety risks if allowed to accumulate.
“If we manage to harvest the methane gas, this facility will contribute to Uganda’s carbon trading efforts because it will be a compliant system that removes dangerous gases from the atmosphere,” Kigenyi said.
He added that methane recovery would form part of KCCA’s broader plans to improve the landfill’s environmental performance and reduce risks associated with waste decomposition.
Methane capture systems can help prevent the gas from escaping directly into the atmosphere. Depending on the technology adopted, the recovered gas can potentially be used to generate energy or be managed through controlled flaring. However, the extent to which the proposed project could support carbon trading would depend on its design, implementation and compliance with applicable carbon market requirements.
Kigenyi also explained how the authority manages leachate, the contaminated liquid produced when water passes through waste or when organic materials decompose.
He said the landfill generates substantial quantities of leachate because a significant proportion of the waste deposited at the site is organic.
According to Kigenyi, KCCA collects the liquid in a series of ponds, where it undergoes treatment and stabilisation before being released into the environment.
He said the Ministry of Health tests the treated leachate to assess its safety and determine whether it meets the required standards before discharge.
“Before it is released, that leachate is tested by the Ministry of Health to ensure it has become less pathogenic and will not affect biodiversity in the area,” he said.
Proper leachate management is essential to reducing the risk of soil and water contamination around landfill sites, particularly where large volumes of waste accumulate over time.
The effectiveness of the treatment process and compliance with environmental discharge standards remain important considerations in ensuring that landfill operations do not threaten surrounding ecosystems and communities.
Beyond waste disposal and environmental management, Kigenyi said the Buyala landfill supports economic activities that provide livelihoods for hundreds of people involved in waste picking, recycling and related services.
He noted that some people travel from districts as far as Luwero to earn a living from activities at the site, highlighting the landfill’s economic importance beyond the immediate surrounding communities.
Kigenyi added that KCCA had provided basic facilities, including designated sanitation areas, while private operators run food vending businesses and other services at the landfill.
The presence of waste pickers and recycling activities also highlights the role of resource recovery in reducing the amount of material that ultimately requires disposal.
However, the working conditions, occupational safety and access to adequate sanitation for people operating at the site remain important aspects of landfill management.
The COSASE visit provided legislators with an opportunity to assess the landfill’s operations, the environmental safeguards in place and the challenges associated with managing growing volumes of waste generated in Kampala and neighbouring areas.
The proposed methane recovery initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve waste management through pollution control, resource recovery and better management of the environmental risks associated with decomposing waste.
If implemented, the project could help KCCA address methane emissions while exploring the potential economic value of recovered gas.
The authority’s plans will, however, depend on the technical feasibility of methane extraction, the investment required and the establishment of systems to ensure safe and effective operation.